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NMTI burglarized again, several tools stolen
The Northern Marianas Trades Institute in Lower Base was burglarized again and several tools were stolen. The burglary was discovered yesterday. (Ferdie Dela Torre)
The Northern Marianas Trades Institute in Lower Base was burglarized again and several tools were discovered stolen yesterday morning.
NMTI director of external relations Vic Cepeda told Saipan Tribune that he and their maintenance worker found out the burglary when they reported to work yesterday before 7am.
Cepeda said he noticed that the padlocks at the front gate and the sliding door of the building were cut.
He said the doorknob on the storage room was pried open.
Only the tools from the storage room were stolen.
NMTI closes on regular days at 8:30pm.
NMTI grants writer Ross S. Manglona said the burglary was disappointing.
Manglona said as faculty staff arrived yesterday morning they learned that their campus was broken into and power tools were stolen.
“We ask the community’s help in making sure these culprits find it difficult to sell the stolen equipment,” Manglona said.
The grants writer said the key focus is prevention for future occurrences.
Manglona urged the general public to know that if they are approached with a great deal on power tools, they should question how the individual acquired such expensive tools.
“We appreciate the help from the community in this regard. Please remember that receiving stolen items is also punishable by law,” Manglona said.
Stolen were a Makita 4” angle grinder, Black and Decker 4” angle grinder, Makita hammer drill, Makita 3/8” drill, Dewalt screw 6mm, Makita 3” belt sander, electric planer skill, Makita palm sander, electric sawzall, electric router, Makita chop saw, Rotary chipping gun 22 volts, four finishing hammers 8 oz, two brand new Perfect Aire window type A/C unit 5000, and three butane canisters.
There was no estimated value for the stolen items.
In January 2012, NMTI was burglarized and thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment were stolen. The case was never solved.
The late businessman Anthony Pellegrino established the only trades school in the CNMI in 2008.
