A band of robbers cleared out Newlands Cricket Stadium in under an hour over the Easter long weekend.
According to the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), the glass doors of 25 suites were looted and damaged. Television sets were and liquor were stolen too.
The incident occurred just after midnight on Friday, when a woman approached security guards at Gate A and requested help in finding a church in the Newlands vicinity. She returned 15 minutes later, asking a similar question. This served as a distraction, allowing three men to jump over security fences.
A further 15 men armed with guns jumped the fences as well and forced the security guards to provide keys to the iconic President’s Suite.
The men piled all their stolen goods into three vehicles and sped off into the night.
According to an official of the WPCA, South African Police Services are conducting an extensive investigation into the incident. WPCA will also assess their security measures to prevent another such incident. More security cameras may be installed to prevent this.
The association is disturbed by the event, and are helping SAPS to get to the bottom of the robbery, as well as to prevent a reoccurrence. They will also look into their budgetary constraints to improve the stadium’s security.
No suspects have yet been arrested.
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