Blouvlei Nursery School, in Retreat, has suffered a dent in their budget after criminals entered their premises last week and stole an aluminium door frame and brass handle, leaving the school with R3 050 damage to its property.
Warrant Officer John Bartlett,spokesperson for Steenberg police, said a case of malicious damage to property and theft is being investigated.
He said all doors and gates of the 63-year-old school had been properly locked on Thursday March 1, at about 5pm, but
at 7am the next morning it was discovered that two chairs outside had been stolen, the gate bent, sliding door broken and the frame ripped out .
Nothing else was taken from the school.
Disappointed principal Fatima Elloker said the school now needs to put off the revamp of their playground to urgently replace the sliding door.
Ms Elloker said luckily the criminals did not get into the classrooms.
“The thieves came in at night but couldn’t get into the classrooms after they attempted to bend one of the burglar bar doors as well.”
The school accommodates 54 children from age one to five.”I am the third principal and started working here in 1989,” said Ms Elloker.
She said the school has had a few burglaries but the biggest one was in 2010 when they took food, crockery, blankets and other items.
She said the school will
be looking at tightening security by having an alarm installed.
“In April last year someone drove into the school’s fence.
“The broken fence could have been the spot where the thieves came through to get onto the school ground,” said Ms Elloker.
WarrantOfficerBartlett reminded residents that when buying stolen property they make themselves guilty of a criminal offence punishable by law.
“Incidents like these may leave the children traumatised and we request the community’s assistance with tracing the perpetrators.”
Anyone with information about illegal activities or stolen property can call Steenberg police at 021 702 9000 and all information will be treated as confidential.
* The Blouvlei Nursery School will be having a surf walk on Tuesday March 27.
For more information about the walk, call 021 712 2537.
