Break-ins at CEBM

Intruders broke into the head office of the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM), Belmont twice in two days, last Sunday after 3 a.m. and Monday after 4 a.m.

Three burglars jumped the perimeter wall into the compound, which also has the head office of the Catholic Religious Education Development Institute (CREDI) and St Dominic’s Children’s Home.

On both occasions, the security guard on the premises at the time was prevented from raising an alarm. The men damaged the front door lock of the CEBM office to gain entry and ransacked desks. They then returned Monday to search the offices, broke into a locked cabinet, and entered the vault. The CEBM does not store large sums of cash on the premises.

Chief Executive Officer of the CEBM Sharon Mangroo said the lock on the front door that was replaced Sunday was damaged with the second intrusion and a new one had to be installed. The security alarm had to be repaired.

The breaks-ins have left CEBM staff bewildered as to the motive since electronic items were left. “The police kept asking what do you do here,” Mangroo commented.

Security is being beefed up and additional measures implemented. A report was made to the Belmont Police Station. Personnel from the crime scene investigation department collected evidence.

Additional information has been sourced from security cameras in the area and submitted to investigating officers. The men wore “hooded clothes”. -LPG