Armed robbery on UCT campus

hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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Robbers opened fire on unarmed security guards on the UCT campus after a student had been robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight.

Nobody was injured, but the student called on UCT afterwards to beef up security. The university has a "gun-free"policy and the guards are not allowed to be armed.

Lesley Connolly, a politics and history major, arrived on campus to adjudicate the annual inter-varsity debating event on Saturday.

"At midday, I parked outside the Kramer Law Building on Middle Campus... I had my laptop and handbag with me. But, I soon realised I was at the wrong venue and returned to my car."

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Someone found her bag and handed it in
As she got into the car, two men pointed guns at her, grabbed her laptop and then her bag.

"They then demanded the keys to my car," she said, "and I was scared that they were going to ask me to drive them somewhere, but they said they didn't want the car, only the keys. Then they ran off at high speed."

Connolly ran to a security desk of the university's Campus Protection Services (CPS). The officers manning the desk gave chase and Connolly followed them.

Within a minute, she heard gunshots ringing out as one of the robbers fired at their pursuers.

"I was shocked because I never believed that they would actually shoot someone, but when I heard the gunshots I knew that they could easily have shot me," she said.

The men jumped into a getaway car and sped off.

CPS then called the Rondebosch police station and police were dispatched immediately.

Gerda Kruger, executive director of communications and marketing at UCT, said: "Saturday's incident was most regrettable and disturbing."

She said the university had a "gun-free" policy as it "relies on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to supply armed response".

Although the university had relatively low levels of crime on campus, its approach had always been one of zero tolerance.

There were 230 CCTV cameras, internal and external patrols, and a crime-awareness campaign.

Connolly was later contacted by the Gugulethu police station to say that someone had found her bag and had handed it in.

"(But) They still have the main set of keys to my car and house, so when people tell me I'm lucky they didn't harm me or take my car, I don't feel very lucky."

Bontle Senne, a third year B Com student who came to Connolly's assistance after the incident, says she had recently visited the Fuller Residence on campus, where she stayed last year, and noticed a sign on the wall which said that the residence had become a target of crime once again and that students staying there should be more aware.

"There was a spate last year when criminals would climb in through windows and steal things, or they would break the padlocks that students put on their doors," she said.

"And we've become desensitised to it. Smuts, another residence, has also been targeted a lot.

"I hope they beef up security. They are good at preventing cars from getting in but not people on foot who could be armed. This is unacceptable," she said.

No arrests have been made so far.

Other violent crimes which have brought campus security under the spotlight include:

# In January 2005, UCT mathematics Professor Brian Hahn was bludgeoned with an umbrella on campus and kicked in the face. He died eight days later.

Doctoral student Steve Tladi was accused of his murder but was found unfit to stand trial.

# In October 2005, UCT engineering professor Hugh Douglas was attacked and robbed at gunpoint in his office on the campus and resigned soon afterwards.

# In July 2006, UCT chemistry professor Mino Caira was left with serious head injuries by an unknown assailant who entered his office
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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=&art_id=vn20080421112911625C822765

This is where I study every day. :(
 
Just crazy when it happens somewhere so close to home I guess.

But yes, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
 
hj2k_x said:
Just crazy when it happens somewhere so close to home I guess.

But yes, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
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Makes it really hit home. I've seen a friend not long after he'd been shot at by scum with Ak 47s. Talk about going pale :sick:

Dominic Rooney said:
Wtf "no guns" policy for the security guards. Must be a lot of that hippie movement - Gun Free SA - at UCT.
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I was shocked because I never believed that they would actually shoot someone, but when I heard the gunshots I knew that they could easily have shot me," she said.

Honestly some people live in another world totally divorced from ours here :rolleyes:
 
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At least the woman got a wake up call to the real world. A politics and history major and she thought he wouldn't actually shoot someone :eek: :eek:
 
alanf85 said:
At least the woman got a wake up call to the real world. A politics and history major and she thought he wouldn't actually shoot someone :eek: :eek:
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Just such a pity UCT security are not allowed to carry guns. They have to call SAPS and wait for them to show up :(

A few months back a cash in transit van was hijacked also on UCT's campus. Not cool.
 
hj2k_x said:
Just such a pity UCT security are not allowed to carry guns. They have to call SAPS and wait for them to show up :(

A few months back a cash in transit van was hijacked also on UCT's campus. Not cool.
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Yeah well don't hold much hope of them changing that policy. Somebody is going to end up being killed and it's not going to be the criminal :(
 
Terrible. :(

She said the university had a "gun-free" policy as it "relies on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to supply armed response".
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Pathetic, at least have an armed response company if you don't want armed guards on campus.
 
alanf85 said:
Yeah well don't hold much hope of them changing that policy. Somebody is going to end up being killed and it's not going to be the criminal :(
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That is the sad thing.

I am sure there will be a lot of discussion about this tomorrow at varsity. I'll be interested to see what they are going to do about it.
 
had a couple of incidents on Tuks main campus (Hatfield) but IMO security is pretty good inside main campus
 
So what did the hippies over at UCT say about the shooting?
 
You really don't expect it at UCT though, the campus is (or rather, feels) completely safe. This was a Saturday, and I don't think they would try the same thing as easily during the week when all the students and security are there.
 
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