A gaggle of burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Rugby World Cup in South Africa made off with whisky, 5 signed Springbok jerseys and eight laptops – however left the Rugby World Cup behind.
In CCTV of the incident, the thieves might be seen coming into the constructing earlier than wanting round presumably for objects to steal.
One of many burglars touches the trophy – a duplicate of the William Webb Ellis trophy – earlier than as an alternative wanting by means of the cabinets beneath and strolling away.
The housebreaking came about on Monday (November 13) at round 10pm native time in Cape City’s northern suburbs. Police have been initially involved that the trophy might have been stolen.
Native media reported that ‘two well-dressed males’ entered the enterprise park in a White Toyota Corolla earlier than forcing a window open on the bottom ground to get into the constructing.
Footage of the incident as shared on X (previously Twitter) by Yusuf Abramhee, a South African journalist.
Within the video, the burglars might be seen opening cabinet doorways and rifling by means of the workplace for objects to take. Two males, one carrying a beanie hat, then stroll previous the trophy into an workplace.
Once they stroll out of the workplace, one of many males grasps the trophy, lifts it barely whereas his confederate speaks to him, earlier than placing it down once more.
They then start rifling by means of cabinets earlier than strolling away once more. It’s unclear why the burglars selected to go away the trophy behind, when it was proper there for the taking.
The BBC reviews {that a} South Africa Rugby Union spokesperson mentioned that each one its trophies have been secure following the shut name.
South Africa received the Rugby World Cup on October 28 after they beat New Zealand in Paris, once they grew to become the primary nation to win the match 4 occasions.
The staff – and the nation as a complete – celebrated the historic win with a four-day lengthy victory tour, the place they took half in parades throughout South Africa.
December 15 has additionally been declared a nationwide vacation by President Cyril Ramaphosa to mark the success “in celebration of the Springboks’ momentous achievement”.
The shut name might have result in a recreation of the incident through which the 1966 soccer World Cup was stolen from an exhibition at Westerminster Central Corridor following England’s win. A ransom notice for £15,000 was additionally issued to make sure it is secure flip.
A nationwide search started to recuperate the trophy – which had been insured for £30,000 – earlier than it was ultimately discovered every week later by Pickles the canine underneath a hedge in Beulah Hill, in south east London.
