A man was arrested after eight bicycles, worth an estimated R19 200, were stolen from a container at Fairmount High School in Grassy Park, on Thursday November 10.
This was the school’s second burglary after 13 bicycles were stolen in June last year.
Warrant Officer Wynita Kleinsmith, spokesperson of Grassy Park police, said the Parkwood sector manager had followed up information and arrested a 34-year-old man on charges of burglary on Monday morning, November 14.
Teacher Mark Abrahams recalled the first burglary. “Last year we had a similar break-in where 13 bikes were stolen, but with the help of the local community the school managed to recover about 50 percent of the bikes. We are hoping that this time the community could assist in recovering all the stolen bikes.”
He said the bikes are used by the Fairmount Cycle Club in various races such as the Cape Town Cycle and Knysna cycle tours.
“We managed to buy these bikes that help keep the boys and girls off the streets and expose them to other avenues of recreation with the generous funding provided by Pedal Power Association, but unfortunately we do not have the luxury of this funding for 2017 and must foot the bill for repairs, the purchasing of bikes and transport to various races out of the Fairmount coffers.”
Mr Abrahams said six red and black Giant SCR road bikes with 9-speed Sora Groupset, one black Avalanche road bike and one red and white Raleigh road bike were taken.
Mr Abrahams gave the serial numbers of three of the bikes: The two Giant SCR serial numbers are C3116 and C91J6. The Raleigh road bike’s serial number is 12101631.
Warrant Officer Kleinsmith said: “The station commander Colonel Shawn Van Wyk thanks the sector manager for a job well done and the law-abiding members of the community for supplying information in order to execute the arrest.”
Philip Bam, spokesman for the Grassy Park Community Police Forum, said the bicycles could
not be replaced easily as they were “quite costly”.
“The Grassy Park CPF deplores this criminal action and wishes the criminals to know that they did not only steal cycles but also opportunity for our young people to participate and excel. It is really sad when such things happen. Our institutions serving our people have been consistent targets of criminal elements in our community. This is just not on,” said Mr Bam.
He made an appeal to the community. “Report the whereabouts of these cycles to the police and neighbourhood watch members in the community. Being silent, when you know who did this terrible deed makes you complicit. People with a good conscience cannot remain quiet. There is no honour in buying one of these stolen cycles as a Christmas present for your child. If we buy stolen goods, we are feeding the criminal habit of theft and disrespect for the property of others. Please do the right thing and be an active citizen by reporting the thieves.”
Anyone with information on crime can call the police at 021 700 3940, Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or the sector manager
Sergeant Heinrich Gordon on
082 522 2881. All information
will be treated as highly confidential.
