Rhodes students warned of Grahamstown crime wave

RHODES University has warned students and staff to beef up security after a recent crime wave in Grahamstown.

Police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender confirmed there had been a marked increase in the theft of hi- tech electronic equipment in Grahamstown and urged residents and schools to be extra vigilant.

Items targeted include cellphones, laptops, iPads and GPS tracking devices. "Sometimes you go for a walk and when you come back it is gone."

Last week, Rhodes University Campus Protection Unit (CPU) manager Towers Naidu sent out a campus-wide e-mail warning students and staff to be extra cautious and take "basic security measures".

"In Grahamstown recently there has been an increase in criminal activities and external sources have informed us that there has been an influx of external criminal elements committing various crimes," the e-mail said.

"We believe that these criminal activities might affect Rhodes University as well, because we are part of the Grahamstown community."

The e-mail urged staff and students to lock offices when leaving, lock away valuable personal and work-related property, put on building alarms and ensure doors and windows were properly closed.

"Laptops must be locked away when going home or not in use. Don't think that it is 100% secured with the security cable in place – criminals are carrying tools that break the cables."

The e-mail also urged staff and students working late or over weekends to call campus security to log when they arrived and left.

Residence students were also urged to lock away valuables, avoid late nights out – or to walk in groups using safe routes. They were urged to look after their keys and identity cards.

"Call CPU when requiring an escort on campus, be alert at all times."

Govender warned owners of equipment that had built-in tracking devices to ensure they were activated.

"It is happening right across Grahamstown from homes and vehicles ... there has been a marked increase."

She urged residents and schools to try and better secure their valuables.

Rhodes University spokesman Zamuxolo Matiwana yesterday said even though there had been an increase in campus crime in recent months, it was sporadic. He said the thieves were even carrying tools to cut through anti-theft cables attached to laptops. Since January, 31 laptops and four iPads had been stolen. - David Macgregor