20 schools hit by Gadget Gang in 4 months

A hi-tech syndicate plundering schools of computers has struck at more than 20 of them in KwaZulu-Natal in just four months.

Durban - A hi-tech syndicate plundering schools of computers has struck at more than 20 of them in KwaZulu-Natal in just four months.

Hillcrest High School was one of the latest schools to be hit, with the so-called “Gadget Gang” making off last week with 54 computers, five laptops and 15 tablets.

Deputy principal, Pieter Victor, said the burglars broke in through the roof. This was the same modus operandi used at all the schools and the burglars knew exactly which room to break into.

They outwitted security companies by sliding roof tiles back in place and staying in the ceilings while the properties were checked after alarms went off.

At Hillcrest, Victor said since there had been no signs of movement inside or forced entry, security officers left after checking for 45 minutes, and the gang pillaged the school.

“They came in through the admin block ceiling and ransacked offices, and used an angle-grinder to open the strongroom and safe in the cashier”s office.”

They found keys to certain rooms but broke locks and used crowbars as they made their way through the school after disabling the alarm.

“We are still repairing all the damage and upgrading security,” said Victor.

“Everything is still being assessed, but I think replacing the equipment will cost about R400 000.”

The burglary cost the school money and pupils” time because they would not be able to continue with computer applications technology classes until the computers were replaced.

At Overport Secondary, the gang broke in through the principal”s office ceiling.

This was where the control panel for the school”s alarm system was, which they disabled. The blinds were drawn, possibly to hide sparks as they used an angle-grinder to slice open the safe door.

All the computers in the admin block were stolen, with years of information lost.

Earlier this month more than a dozen computers were stolen from Forest View Primary School in Kloof, with thieves gaining access to the school”s computer room through the ceiling.

The raids on schools in the province appeared to have started in Pietermaritzburg in January, with more than 100 computers reportedly stolen from schools.

The Daily News in that month reported that Mountain Rise Primary School, in Pietermaritzburg, had been burgled by a gang which broke through the ceiling of their admin block, disabled the alarm and stole four laptop computers. The school is opposite a police station.

Also in Pietermaritzburg in January, Athlone Primary, lost 27 computers, while 45 were stolen from Scottsville Primary after the gang gained entry using similar methods. Greenhill Primary was also burgled.

Sergeant Mthokozisi Ngobese, police spokesman in the area, yesterday said a task team formed to investigate the thefts had arrested more than 50 people.

“A number of operations were conducted and they have yielded positive results. Those arrested were local, from KZN and outside the province.”

Although the situation was now “under control” in the province”s capital, it seemed the stealing spree was continuing, with schools in the Highway area, Durban, Durban North and on the South Coast having been burgled.

Ian Colls, owner and managing director of Compusafe Electronic Asset Security, a Hillcrest-based company specialising in securing IT equipment, has been working with police and security companies investigating the cases.

He believes the gang has good intelligence.

Colls believes this particular syndicate is possibly based in Johannesburg, and has been looting its way around the country over a two- to three-year period.

Colls said the gang was highly skilled and organised because “they steal the DVR (digital video recorder) so there is no CCTV footage of their crime. They know exactly what they want, where to find it and how to get in and out undetected”.

How they transported the equipment, which at Hillcrest High included a large number of computers, was also being investigated by Colls.

“It is possible they use a one- to two-ton truck with a canopy to transport the stolen goods to where they are sold, as the number of computers being stolen would not fit into a sedan-type vehicle” Colls said.

He believes about 10% of these computers are sold outside the country and at second-hand shops, with the balance being recycled and redistributed within the country.

“They (the syndicate) already have their sources to sell these computers to before they steal them,” he said.

Daily News