Burglars trashed a beauty training centre in Trichardt on Tuesday morning, 15 May in what appears to be their search for copper piping and wire.
The floor of the centre was covered with debris that included pieces of mortar and brick and shattered glass from florescent tube lights that were torn out of the brackets. Electrical wire and copper piping were ripped from the walls and ceiling.
Even the electrical DB board and built-in wall alarm were raided while hairdresser basins were shattered.
Parts of the geyser were stripped off and were found outside the building.
Ms Magda de Witt who dropped off a student in the morning, noticed an open window and discovered some copper piping outside near the building.
“I went to investigate on the other side of the building, and upon my return found that the piping had been removed in that short period of time,” she said.
Ms De Witt called for help on the Zello channel Secunda 911 assist 24/7. StratconRisk responded and the police were also summoned.
According to Mr Morné van der Walt, a student, this was not the first burglary.
“There were others during which mainly the copper water pipes were stolen.”
The principal of the academy said that after the most recent burglary, the machines in the salon were moved from the premises.
According to the Trichardt Police, burglary and copper cable theft have been rife in the town recently, especially at buildings that look unoccupied.
