Rise in holiday vandalism and theft
Schools across the province were targeted by criminals
IN SPITE of additional security, alarms and cameras, vandalism continues to spike at high-risk schools. Destroyed classrooms, missing computers and shattered lights are what some pupils returned to last week. A total of 32 incidents of vandalism were reported at schools across the province.
Despite measures taken by the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) Safe Schools Directorate to deploy additional security, vandalism cases increased from the 21 incidents reported in 2016.
According to Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, two major incidents were reported in the Metro South District, where a school’s workshop was targeted. Despite the school having an alarm system and security, various tools, cutting machines and gas canisters were stolen.
In Metro North, two prefab classrooms were destroyed and cables, lights and intercom speakers were stolen. The school’s alarm system was triggered, but police did not respond.
“The estimated cost of damage thus far is around R600 000, with only half of the estimates having been calculated. We should be using these funds to build new schools, improve existing schools and generally improve opportunities for children,” said Schäfer.
One of the less costly incidents involved a school in the Metro East Education District, which had its gas stove, two gas bottles, solar panels, non-perishable food and aluminium window frames stolen from its feeding kitchen. Robbers also turned the water on, which ran continuously after the break-in.
Other reports of vandalism included theft of copper pipes, electrical cabling, computer equipment and stationery.
Schäfer’s spokesperson, Jessica Shelver, said the reason vandalism had gone up despite more precautions being taken varied, as some school had an alarm but it was not triggered; and in other cases, the department was waiting for a report from alarm companies.
“The WCED does all it can to protect our schools, but we need the support of the community to report incidents to the SAPS, whose primary responsibility is community safety and crime control. The Bonteheuwel community worked together over the holiday period and not one of their schools was targeted,” Shelver noted.