/ 15 April 2008

Now thieves target magistrate’s court

Three hard drives were stolen from the Jeppestown Magistrate’s Court, Johannesburg police said on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Inspector Richard Munyai said staff at the court discovered on Tuesday that there had been a break-in some time during the night.

He said three hard drives — one from the chief magistrate, one from the prosecutor’s office and one from the offices of the legal aid board — were taken.

”There was no forced entry. The doors were still closed. They got in through the windows,” said Munyai.

Two security guards on duty did not see anything happening.

He said everything was undisturbed at 7pm when night staff took over, so the incident must have happened after then.

Police were still investigating whether the robbers stole the hard drives for the equipment itself of if they wanted the information on the hard drives.

”We do not know that for now.”

He also said that at this stage police did not think there was any connection between this robbery and one that took place on Sunday night at the Johannesburg High Court, although the police investigation still needed to be developed.

A case of theft has been opened.

No arrests have been made. — Sapa