The Pietermaritzburg SPCA has issued an urgent appeal for community assistance after its Bargain Barn second-hand shop was targeted in two recent burglaries, compounding a year-long pattern of break-ins. Committee chairperson Natalie Powell said the latest incidents form part of a worrying trend, with seven confirmed break-ins and about 17 attempted burglaries recorded over the past year. The first of the recent incidents occurred on Sunday, December 28, and was discovered the following morning.
Powell said staff member Barbara Cragg arrived at the shop shortly after 8am and noticed that a window was open and the burglar guarding had been damaged. “Entry was gained from the back of the building, so there was no visible damage from the front,” Powell said. Once inside, staff found that a window had been pried open to allow access.
Several items were stolen, including a vacuum cleaner, a Shox drone, electronic cables and other small electrical goods. A case was opened at Alexandra Road police station but was closed within 24 hours due to the absence of suspects. Just days later, on Sunday, January 4, the shop was targeted again — this time while staff were nearby.
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“On this occasion we actually caught the burglar in the act,” Powell said. Unfortunately he managed to escape, but had we not interrupted him, we don’t know how much damage or theft could have occurred. She said the intruder had already begun piling items to take but fled empty-handed after being disturbed.
Fingerprints were taken, and the case remains under investigation. Powell said the repeated break-ins have raised serious concerns about the safety of staff and animals on the property. “The Bargain Barn is a short walk from our boarding kennels.
We are fortunate that they have only been able to break in from the paddock side of the SPCA, but what will happen if they breach that? We are terrified,” she said.
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