School hit by theft: 4 caught

Police have finally made a major breakthrough in the series of break-ins at Nkululeko Senior Primary School in Mdantsane when they arrested four suspects and recovered nine of the 16 stolen computers.

The school, located in NU1, less than 2km from the police station and literally a few steps from the East London education district offices, has been hit by thugs 26 times in the past seven years.

Last week, the school had its 16th and last computer stolen.

In December, five computers were stolen and in January another five were stolen.

Police spokesperson Captain Mluleki Mbi said a joint detective and intelligence unit operation resulted in the breakthrough and arrest on Tuesday.

Mbi said the four had been arrested in Mdantsane and in nearby Nxarhuni, where the goods were also recovered.

“We launched this operation in a bid to find the culprits.

“After several leads, we were able to make the arrests,” said Mbi.

When police recovered the goods, some parts of the computers, such as the screens, had already been sold and police were now in the process of recovering the stolen goods that were sold.

Mbi said investigations were still ongoing and that the four suspects were to appear in court on Thursday, facing charges of burglary of business premises.

The department of education has commended the police for the arrests.

Education spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said schools were burgled on a daily basis.

“Communities are destroying the same facilities that are meant to teach their children.

“This is really frustrating government’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of education for our pupils,” said Pulumani.

In many cases, the culprits were never arrested and the stolen goods never recovered.

Last week, the school had its 16th and last computer stolen