Two schools placed just a few kilometres apart have been broken into — with mainly computers stolen — within seven days of each other, in what looks like the work of a syndicate.
Similarly, but not necessarily linked, a couple of days later, a Bela-Bela school clerk was robbed at gunpoint of the school’s laptop, tablet device and his personal phone.
The two schools which were targets of break-ins are Lekkerbreek Primary School in Modimolle, and Bathopele Secondary School in Pienaarsrivier, who collectively lost several thousand rand worth
of computer equipment.
According to Modimolle police spokesperson, Warrant Officer James Findlay, two patrolling security officers at Lekkerbreek Primary School were alerted to a commotion from a part of the
premises.
When one of the guards went to investigate, he was confronted by three men armed with fire-arms, who then frogmarched him into the school hall wherein he had left his colleague.
Findlay said the two officers were then marched to the guard room, where the intruders removed a bunch of keys.
He said the alleged robbers first unlocked the school laboratory, but did not remove anything.
The intruders then proceeded to the administration office where they cut open the walk-in safe, and allegedly helped themselves to eight laptops and a motherboard, he said.
Findlay said a case of business robbery has been opened, and that investigations continue.
At Bathopele High School the police in Pienaarsrivier said a case of business robbery was opened, following the theft of 30 tablet devices, 30 mobile phones, three laptops, three desktop
computers, a 54-inch plasma TV and other electronic equipment.
The school’s spokesperson, Miriam Raboya, said the intruders cut through the roof to gain access into the premises.
Equipment estimated at R52 378 was stolen.
Modderspruit Primary School clerk, Katlego Mashaba, said he had just left the circuit office in downtown Bela-Bela, when a suspicious-looking car stopped, with one of the occupants holding him
up at gunpoint.
The process of teaching and learning has since gone back to normal at Lekkerbreek Primary School, after learners were sent back home on Wednesday, 6 November.
The learners and educators were instructed not to enter the premises, while the police were busy working on a cordoned off crime scene.
A day after the school had celebrated the achievements of learners who did well throughout the year by hosting a prize-giving ceremony, a shocking discovery was made by one of the staff members
who reportedly found security guards tied with their own shoe laces.
The police were then summoned and the school premises were immediately declared a crime scene, where none of the educators and learners were allowed to enter.
Although the unforeseen circumstances had negative effects on the school, the Limpopo Department of Education spokesperson, Sam Makondo, said the classes were back to normal by Thursday, 7 November.
“All missed tests for yesterday (Wednesday, 6 November) were written today (Thursday, 7 November). The school is back to normal today and all learners wrote their examinations,” he said.
— The BEAT
