Burglary at Review’s offices
The first working day following the long weekend got off to a bad start at Northern Media Group (NMG) after the company had been burgled in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
POLOKWANE – The first working day following the long weekend got off to a bad start at Northern Media Group (NMG) after the company had been burgled in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Even though there was a security guard on duty, an alarm system connected to armed response, and a CCTV system, the four robbers were still prepared to take the risk.
The burglary took place just before 04:00, shortly after the security guard had completed his round of the premises and assisted a customer to load newspapers into his vehicle.
According to the police report, the security guard was grabbed by four men just after he closed the gate.
The men shoved him into the guardroom where they tied him up with his own bootlaces.
The two-way radio and panic button were taken away from him by force.
One of the men held the security guard at gunpoint while the other three men broke a window to gain access to the main office building.
In the meantime, the guard managed to free himself and tried to flee but one of his attackers caught him.
The security guard was severely beaten, tied up with some wire, and hit over the head with a piece of iron.
The burglars made their way through several offices, seemingly unaware that they were being filmed by the CCTV system.
Computers were the thieves’ main target, although they also damaged some property as they threw the contents of drawers out on the floor along the way.
After helping themselves to several computers in the main office building, the burglars went to another separate office at the back of the premises.
They broke the locks of five doors to gain access to this office, only to steal the computer and some stock valued at around R500.
They made their escape just as the armed response vehicle arrived at the scene.
As soon as NMG’s alarm system was set off, Urban Security contacted senior members of NMG’s personnel.
Simultaneously, an Urban Security armed response vehicle was dispatched. On arrival at NMG’s premises, the armed security guard saw four men running away.
The injured security guard was taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries and released. He is currently recuperating at home, and will resume his duties soon.
Evidence, including the CCTV footage and fingerprints, was gathered by the police shortly after the burglary.
NMG general manager, Hannes Cilliers, said the damage, and loss of equipment, was estimated at between R30 000 and R40 000.
Urban Security technical manager, Jaco Benade, said it was important to them to look after their customers’ property to the best of their abilities. “We make a point of ensuring that our personnel are well trained and take pride in the work they do.
“We make sure of fast response times and the control of activation signals, to make sure that in most cases, we catch the criminals in the act,” he said.
Westenburg police spokesperson, Capt Mohlaka Mashiane said he was confident that the evidence would lead to early arrests in this case.
