/ 25 November 2007

Armed robbers make off with Beeld’s computers

The Pretoria offices of the daily Afrikaans newspaper Beeld were robbed of more than 30 computers and four cars, Pretoria police said on Saturday.

”I can confirm that a group of armed men stole about 38 computers, four cars, a camera and a cellphone during the robbery in Hatfield on Friday night,” said Captain Lucas Sithole.

Sithole said that the group approached the offices of Media24, which houses Beeld as well as the Daily Sun and Son, at about 10pm. The men held up guards as well as an employee before making their way inside the building.

”They robbed the employee outside the building before heading inside, where they took computers and the vehicles,” he said.

Beeld assistant editor Sarel van der Walt confirmed that Beeld photographer Theana Calitz had been robbed of her camera. He added that the office had been robbed before.

The media house is offering a reward of R25 000 for any information that could lead to arrests.

Police are investigating a case of business robbery. — Sapa