Burglars cause havoc at college

Date: 16 April 2016 By: Isabel Venter

It seems to be tough times for all, even criminals, as they now seem to target schools to burgle.

Ridgeway College in Louis Trichardt was notified by its security company on Sunday that the alarm had been triggered. When Mr Bruce Wells, executive head of the college, arrived on the scene with fellow teachers, they were met by devastation. The criminals, it would seem, had come prepared with all the necessary tools of the trade. Wells even discovered a screwdriver left behind by one of the burglars.

First the thugs gained entry to the school by breaking down the newly built northern palisade fence. Once on the premises, the thugs made for the school’s tuck shop, where they forced open the reinforced steel bars. According to Wells, the thieves only made a mess inside the shop in their quest for cash, but fortunately for the school, no money is kept inside the shop.

When their search turned up nothing, the thieves moved on to the main school building. First they tried to pry open the Trelidor safety gate next to the front entrance of the school. When they could not manage to get the door open, the thugs proceeded to climb onto the roof of the school, where they managed to cut three openings in the roof. It seems, however, that they did not gain entry into the school by means of the roof.

The thugs managed to force open another steel safety door that closed off one of the school’s side hallways (to the left of the main entrance). Once inside the school, the thugs made straight for the reception area, where they forced open the door. This was when the alarmed was triggered. However, this did not deter the thieves in their plans – they had already jammed sticks into the school gate’s padlock to prevent the security company’s response team from gaining access into the property.

Inside the reception area, the group climbed inside the receptionists’ office in search of money and valuables. It was only when they could not find any money that they fled the scene.

Apart from the repair costs the school is burdened with now, they fear that the robbers might return. Wells said that since they discovered the break-in, a group of suspicious-looking men in a white Izuzu bakkie was noticed hanging around in the vicinity of the school. Increased security measures and vigilant guards placed at the school, however, seem to have foiled the thugs or any would-be thugs’ plans to return.

Wells’ advice, not only to other Louis Trichardt schools but also to residents, was to be more vigilant about their security measures. “Schools are becoming a soft target for criminals,” said Wells.

In the meantime, the newspaper’s enquiry into the matter with the Makhado Police yielded no response. At this stage the station is yet to be appointed a permanent station commander, with the communications officer being on maternity leave.

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

More photos... 

One of the three holes thieves cut into the roof of Ridgeway College in an attempt to gain access to the offices. Photo supplied.

First the thugs tried to gain entry into the school's tuck shop by forcing open the steel security rails. Photo supplied.