KOFFIEFONTEIN – The police in Koffiefontein are searching for unknown suspects in connection with a brazen burglary at Koffiefontein Combined School in the Free State. According to police, the break-in reportedly occurred during the night last Thursday and was discovered the following morning.

Sgt Sinah Mpakane, provincial police spokesperson, said the suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of money, 12 laptops and two cellphones. She said a case of business burglary was registered at a local police station for further investigation into the break-in at the government school. Police are appealing to the public for information to trace the burglars. The value of the stolen devices is yet to be determined.

Mpakane said the school’s principal, Hester van Wyk, reported that she discovered the incident on Friday morning on arrival at the school at 06:10, having left the premises the previous day at about 17:55 with everything still in order. “The principal reported that on her arrival at the school on Friday, she noticed that the main gate and the front door of the admin block were open. Inside the office, she noticed that the walk-in safe was ground open and the small bolted safe was totally removed from the wall. She further alleges that she also discovered that 12 laptops, two cellphones and cash were removed from the safe,” said Mpakane.

In May, police recovered 19 Samsung tablets worth R27 500 that were stolen during a burglary at Itemeleng Primary School in Reddersburg and arrested three learners aged between 14 and 16 in connection with the theft and burglary. Police retrieved 11 devices from a hiding place.

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of suspect(s) is requested to contact the Koffiefontein station commander on 082 467 6301 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or can report anonymously on MySAPSApp.

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