More arrests as police crack down on school burglaries

Gauteng police have recovered more of the goods that were stolen in a spate of burglaries at several of the province's high-tech schools.

In the latest bust, police found four smart boards at a second-hand shop in the Johannesburg CBD, Capt Kay Makhubele said on Wednesday.

These boards, Makhubele said, were believed to have been stolen during robberies at schools in Alexandra and Diepkloof.

Three suspects were arrested and will appear in the magistrate’s court in Johannesburg on charges of possession of suspected stolen goods and business robbery.

Makhubele said that in October 2018, equipment was stolen at a school in Lenasia. The thieves tied up the school's night guards before making off with the equipment.

In January 2019, just days after the new Menzi Primary School opened, robbers attacked the guards at the school and again made off with equipment.

"Since the business robbery at Menzi Primary School in Tsakane, a team of detectives from Ekurhuleni east cluster and the trio task team have been working tirelessly to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and goods recovered," said Makhubele.

"Intelligence-driven information led the teams to Johannesburg CBD again where suspects aged 34 and 47 were arrested," Makhubele added.

The shop where the group was busted is on the corner of Mooi and Helen Joseph streets and traded in stationery and electronic equipment.

In total, seven people have been arrested in connection with the school burglaries, Makhubele said.

"The suspects arrested recently will join the other four suspects that have already appeared in court," he added.