Burglars hit 5 govt offices 7 times

Burglars struck seven times at five CNMI government offices and a parked car on Capital Hill and Navy Hill, stealing computers and other items this week and last week.

No one has been arrested yet in those seven incidents.

NMI Crime Stoppers coordinator Jason Tarkong asked for the public’s help yesterday in solving the cases and arresting the suspects.

According to Tarkong, burglarized were the Department of Labor office on Capital Hill, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Sanitation Office building on Navy Hill, the Department of Commerce on Capital Hill, and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, also on Capital Hill.

Tarkong said a government vehicle belonging to the Department of Finance was also burglarized at the parking lot of the former Emergency Management Office on Capital Hill.

The series of burglary began on Dec. 14 when Labor employees discovered at 8am that the door at building No. 1356 had been pried open and the office was in disarray. Employees at that time could not confirm what items were stolen.

That same day, it was discovered that a break-in happened at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Sanitation Office building No. N-5. The front door knob and dead bolt had been pried open.

Stolen were one water blaster, one Kawasaki bush cutter, one battery charger, tools and socket set, plumber’s tool box, carpenter tool box, electric drill, drill bit set, carpenter chisel set, and a screwdriver set.

The following day, Dec. 15, employees of the Department of Commerce discovered that the window of building No. 1353, the Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Office, had been damaged and broken window glasses were scattered on the floor. No item was reported stolen.

Also on Dec. 15, Department of Labor employees learned that building No. 1343 was burglarized when they discovered that cabinets and desk drawers were left open and office equipment were missing. One of the windows had been forced open.

Stolen were two desktop computers, a 23-inch Lenovo Desktop computer, and a 23-inch Acer Desktop computer, all worth over $2,700.

It was also on Dec. 15 when Finance Department employees discovered that the hood of one of their government vehicles had been pried open. Stolen were spark plugs and battery terminals. The car, a white 2003 Hyundai Accent sedan, was parked outside the former Emergency Management Office.

Last Monday, Dec. 21, employees of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs reported to police that burglars stole their computer desktop HP Pavilion 23 “all in one” worth over $2,500.

Yesterday, police responded to the Department of Labor again after employees discovered that building No. 1356 had been burglarized and stolen were two desktop computers, one Asus “all in one” desktop computer, and one Acer “all in one” desktop computer, all worth over $3,000. Burglars managed to enter the building by forcibly opening the aluminum shutter and door, police said.