“Stealing traffic signs of any form and nature gives me the coolest feeling ever,” admitted one student who currently has six road signs in his digs which include two stop signs and a sign stolen from Rhodes University campus.
“Stealing traffic signs of any form and nature gives me the coolest feeling ever,” admitted one student who currently has six road signs in his digs which include two stop signs and a sign stolen from Rhodes University campus.
Last week, over 30 traffic cones and various other signs were stolen from the traffic circle which is under construction at Somerset Street, Cradock Road and Worcester Street.
Therefore it comes as no surprise that this is no new practice for students. “Stealing signs gives me a rush
it’s fun and it’s nice to have something that says, “I was there,’” says one third year student who stole
his first sign during his first year of study.
Norman Reily, the traffic officer who was on duty last week, reported that the cones which were stolen
from the traffic circle were recovered from a student digs soon afterwards and warned that students who
were caught with signs could be expelled from Rhodes University.
“I’ve got a ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’ sign on my door in my digs,” said a student who thought it
made a good decoration. Although seen as a criminal offence, students continue to steal signs all over Grahamstown.
Captain Milanda Coetzer from the Grahamstown Police said that no docket had been filed for this specific crime so this makes it difficult to investigate properly.
“I’m the landlady of a digs of seven male students – there are approximately eight traffic signs in their home ranging from one way signs, stop street signs and construction site signs. It’s a disgrace that students
steal municipal property,” she said.
