Tshamakwatini Secondary School in Ha-Mavhunga village is quickly turning into prey for burglars in the Nzhelele area.
A group of three unknown men broke into the school on Sunday morning but fled without any items as the police arrived swiftly on the scene. The suspects allegedly ransacked the administration office in the early hours of the morning. They were spotted by the security guard who was on duty and he immediately alerted the police.
They were apparently trying to steal the cricket equipment, but when they realised that the police were already on their heels, they left the items and fled the scene.
This is the second incident at the same school within a period of a month. At the beginning of April, eight laptops were stolen at the school.
The chairperson of the school-governing body, Mr Calvin Tshipuke, said the community's vigilance and police's swift response helped to avert the latest incident. He said suspicion existed that it could be an inside job. "We suspect some of the rebellious children could be working with these burglars," he said. He insisted that children should also be rebuked and be warned about getting involved with criminals.
Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said a security guard who was on duty saw unknown men running away while patrolling. "He called back-up from his colleagues and notified the police. Police arrived, and they together checked the classrooms and found a hammer, one pickaxe, three computer speakers removed from the administration office and were left outside," he said.
Ngoepe said no arrest was made and police investigations were continuing.