The “Take Back the Bult” Project of the Cachet Park CID NPC – a joint venture between the North-West University (NWU) and JB Marks Municipality in Potchefstroom – is in full swing and a very clear message is being sent out to persons with criminal intentions.
“A total onslaught against crime has begun to ensure student safety, and the Bult will no longer be a safe haven for criminals,” says Prof Daryl Balia, deputy vice-chancellor for campus operations in Potchefstroom.
In the meantime the NWU is urging all students and staff members to report stolen keys and access cards to Protection Services or the Security Centre at Cachet Park.
This notice comes after a new modus operandi that is being used by criminal elements within the Bult area, outside the campus, was identified.
According to Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg, the chief executive officer of the Cachet Park City Improvement District Non-Profit Company (CID NPC), two drug dealers who had disguised themselves as car guards have been arrested. It happened after they were monitored and identified by Mooirivier Protection Services’ CCTV cameras during the early hours of 2 May.
One of the perpetrators was apprehended and searched outside an off-campus student accommodation complex. Security services found him in possession of stolen goods, a large amount of money and a female NWU student card, keys and a remote control.
“The perpetrator recently entered a room at the student complex without knocking, and he found two occupants inside,” says Prof Janse van Rensburg. “He pretended to be deaf and showed the occupants a certificate to confirm this. He then asked them for a donation using sign language and left. He returned during the early hours of 2 May and stole a number of items. The suspect has since been arrested.”
“The NWU commends the Cachet Park CID NPC, the Mooirivier Protection Services team, SAPS and NWU Protection Services on a job well done”, says Prof Balia. “The safety of our student community is and will stay our top priority, and we will continue to create a space where criminals do not have the opportunity to commit crime. Our approach of ‘one student victim of crime is one too many’ supports this strategy.”
These are some of the items that were found on the suspect.
