In a break-in at the South Africa Rugby Union’s headquarters in Cape Town’s northern suburbs on Monday, burglars were captured on CCTV touching the World Cup trophy before walking away.
The incident involved the theft of whisky, signed Springbok jerseys, and eight laptops, while the burglars were seen entering a room where the replica of the William Webb Ellis is stored.
Footage shared by South African journalist Yusuf Abramjee showed one burglar touching the trophy with a gloved hand, slightly lifting it before focusing on cupboards underneath.
Fortunately, a spokesperson for the South Africa Rugby Union assured the media that all their trophies remained secure, including the World Cup replica.
The Rugby World Cup victory, secured by South Africa on October 28 with a win over New Zealand in Paris, marked the nation’s fourth tournament triumph.
The country celebrated with a four-day victory tour, featuring parades across South Africa, and President Cyril Ramaphosa declared December 15 a public holiday to honor the Springboks’ historic achievement.
The break-in occurred around 22:00 local time, prompting concerns of the trophy’s theft reported to Western Cape police.
Two cases of business burglary were recorded at the Tygerberg Office Park in Plattekloof, involving two well-dressed men arriving in a white Toyota Corolla.
They accessed the building through a ground-floor window and made off with various items, including the stolen laptops.
Additionally, reports stated that another company within the park had 60 laptops taken during the same period.
Source-BBC
