NCTI, Physical Planning Department burglarized

The SVG National Centre for Technological Innovation Inc (NCTI) and the Physical Planning Department were burglarized last week by person(s) who gained access through a vulnerable section of the building.

Charles Burke, the acting manager of the NCTI, said this is the second time that the NCTI has been burglarized by someone who entered through the roof of the building, which he said is rotten.

Burke explained that in October 2016, a burglar entered through the section of the roof over the bathroom, but this time, entrance was via the section over one of the laboratories.

He said what was also different this time is that the burglar(s) stole the DVR which stores the security camera footage, and its monitor.

“When the first worker arrived at 7 a.m., upon opening the locked front door, he observed pieces of glass on the floor just outside the Physical Planning area, which is on the ground floor. The door to the main entrance to the NCTI, which is on the first floor, was broken and an open glass above the door was shattered.

“Observing the other sections of the building, it was discovered that the burglar entered the building via the roof, by removing galvanize and piercing through the ceiling in the area of Lab Three.”

Four locked offices were broken into: the accounts office, the manager’s office, the office of the acting manager and the front office.

Burke said all the offices were ransacked and a quantity of money was taken, including the petty cash and students’ fees. He said money collected for the day is usually banked. However, sometimes cash is collected after banking hours.

“The information I got from accounts department is that they had collected some students’ fees and the money was secured round there. The money wasn’t deposited,” Burke explained.

At the Physical Planning Department, the general office section was also ransacked, but only a modem was taken.

According to Burke, he was recently told by an employee of the Roads, Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA) that repairing the roof would pose a challenge, as the entire roof was in such disrepair that manoeuvring on it would be difficult.

“The whole thing is that the building is vulnerable. It’s vulnerable because the easiest way of entering the building, breaking into the building, is through the roof. And they keep coming in the roof. So, how am I going to stop them from coming in the roof?” Burke enquired.

A police investigation is ongoing for the latest burglary, while no one has been caught for the previous crime.(CB)