04/07/2007 22:47 - (SA)


Philip de Bruin, Beeld

Johannesburg - A cheeky note was left in the cash hall safe of the Magistrate's Court here after burglars had simply used a key "supplied to them by someone," and made off with R800 000 the previous night.

It read: "Thanks very much, we'll be back later."

That was in April; and, on Tuesday night, they did return.

This time, they stole R500 000, after ordering the security guards to switch off their cellphones and then opening the safe with a blowtorch.

When they left the court building, they rewarded the security guards with a can of Coke, "because they had been so good and behaved themselves so well".

'Inside help' suspected

A senior justice spokesperson said the possibility was being investigated that both thefts had taken place "with inside help".

"Where else would they have got hold of the key to the safe for the first robbery?

"And, why would they return specifically on the nights that the clerks responsible for the cash had neglected to bank it that afternoon?"

The cash comprised bail money, fines and other normal court transactions. It did not include maintenance payments, which were kept separately.