A RICHARDS Bay Secondary School pupil was held up and robbed of his cellphone during lunch break on Friday afternoon.
The 15-year-old was sitting with a group of friends on the school premises when two suspects approached them and pinned him to the wall demanding the cellphone which was in his pocket.
His friends managed to flee and call for help but the suspects had already snatched the phone, jumped back over the school fence and run away.
The matter was reported to the school and a case was opened at the Richards Bay Police Station.
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Parents alerted the Brackenham Community Police Forum (CPF) and Brackenham Community Crime Watch (BCCW) to the crime and they began patrolling the area to locate the perpetrators.
According to CPF and BCCW representative Ray Govender, the learner was able to provide a description of the two men who attacked and robbed him.
‘The suspects, which are known in the community, were later apprehended and arrested.
They are previous offenders and have been involved in crime.
‘The school has been experiencing an ongoing problem of people jumping over fences to gain unauthorized entry into the school premises.
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‘As BCCW, we have had numerous patrols around the school area and in the past also found learners jumping over the fence during school time.
‘It is unacceptable for learners to be targeted on the school premises during break-time and their safety at school compromised.
‘This incident has raised the question of safety once again and we are appealing to local businesses to help the school improve their safety and security, ‘ said Govender.
Govender said the problem of drugs has also been a contributor to the increase of theft and robbery as drug users are involved in crime to support their addictions.
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