​'Just last week we implored communities to take ownership of facilities and highlighted how acts of theft and vandalism cripple our libraries in fulfilling their critical role in providing information and support for education. On Sunday evening, the Retreat Library was burgled and vandalised extensively and it's an act we condemn in the strongest terms,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

The break-in occurred at 19:00, despite four layers of security at the library.

Since the previous burglary, the stone guards were redone and additional strips of metal burglar bars fitted over the stone guards.

​Thieves vandalised cupboards in an attempt to gain access.

They tried to take the safe but must have realised that it was too heavy. Random keys found in the library were thrown on the floor, possibly indicating an attempt to locate the safe key, which is not kept on the premises.

The intruders removed the network and security cables from the SmartCape computers in an attempt to take the central processing units, but could not remove them. They are secured with brackets to deter theft.

An attempt to remove the aluminium from the door frame of a small meeting room did not succeed, but damage was caused to the doorframe.

The thieves took four new mini SmartCape computers which had been locked in a cage, an additional four computers and a monitor, as well as a SmartCape monitor and printer, collectively worth more than R62 000.

Since January 2019, there were 58 insurance claims for incidents at 30 City libraries, totalling nearly R578 000.

'This incident will take our claims close to a million rand, which is totally unacceptable. This is money which could have been spent on much-needed resources or other critical community services.

'Our libraries are also essential facilities for matric pupils who require space to study and access educational material. The impact and implications for those people depending on the facility for information and a place to study is far-reaching and goes way beyond the damage caused at the vandalised facility and the stolen equipment,' added Councillor Badroodien.

Report any suspicious behaviour to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialing 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.

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