Laptops stolen at school during load shedding
As if educational institutions and learners are not facing enough challenges brought on by the Covid pandemic, criminals have dealt another devastating blow to a local high school.
Thieves stole 25 laptops from Steelcrest High School in Kanonkop during load shedding on Wednesday night/Thursday morning.
The laptops were bought by the school over time as they had funds available and sale prices on different brands permitted them to do so.
School headmistress, Ray Eksteen, says that despite the monetary loss, every second learners are without these vital learning aids adds to precious educational time being lost.
Thieves gained entry to the school premises and classroom somewhere between 23:00 on Wednesday and 01:30 on Thursday.
The alarm company responsible for the school’s alarm is currently on the premises to try and establish how thieves managed to sidestep the alarm which operates from a backup battery during power cuts.
The damage of the stolen computers, excluding damage to the building to gain entry to the classroom, is estimated at roughly R250 000.
The laptops are described as black in colour and is of various makes including Mecer, HP and Lenovo.
All computers have the letters SHS, a number from 1 – 25 as well as a year, for example 2021, written on them with permanent markers.
If anybody knows or comes across laptops being sold that fit the above description, they are requested to call Steelcrest High School on their landline 013 282 7410.
When www.mobserver.co.za spoke to Ms Eksteen, she was still waiting for a case number from the police.
