Two identified in string of burglaries in Fagatogo area

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During a time period from May 21, 2023 to June 2, 2023, the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) received reports of multiple burglaries into businesses and a government building in the Fagatogo area, and preliminary investigations into these break-ins were conducted by police officers from the Fagatogo Police Headquarters and were referred to CID for further investigation due to the suspects at that time still being at large, and unknown.

One arrest has since been made, however since the person is a minor, he has been released to his mother. His cousin, who is allegedly the mastermind of the burglaries, is still at large.

THE BURGLARIES

Initial investigations totaled a look into seven cases that include JM Mart, Fong Mart, Fagatogo Marketplace, ASG Territorial Registrar’s Office, Western Union, Sosene’s Barbershop, and Samoa Sports.

The first of these seven cases, was reported by Hung Manh Nguyen, owner of JM Mart in Fagatogo, who reported that items taken from his store ranged from $700, and included cigarettes. Mr. Nguyen provided officers with footage of the person, who was seen on security tapes going through the cash register counter at his store.

Mr. Nguyen found out that the suspect entered after closing hours through a side door that was blocked by a chest freezer to prevent anyone from entering. Mr. Nguyen further added that before closing hours, he saw the individual coming into the store and went to where the chest freezer was located and reached behind the freezer and unlocked the hatch.

Mr. Nguyen then included in his report to officers that he asked village youth and they provided him with a name. The individual was later identified as Sileti Seiuli, from Fagatogo and resides in one of the houses on the mountain behind the Fagatogo Police Headquarters.

The second case reported that on May 24, 2023 at 1 A.M, an unknown individual stole multiple items from Fong Store in Fagatogo, adjacent from the Fagatogo Pavilion, and stolen items reported by the owner were e-charge mobile phones, cash, and cigarettes. When police officers were present at Fong Mart viewing security camera footage later that morning, another village youth who walked into the store reportedly identified the individual on camera. (Name of this suspect has been withheld due to their being a minor).

In the same court affidavit, the third case involved a business in the Fagatogo Marketplace, where on May 30, 2023 at 8:27 A.M, three gift shops within the marketplace belonging to three different owners were burglarized and items stolen included money ula consisting of 50 one-dollar bills and a pair of shoes.

On June 1, 2023, an employee of the ASG Territorial Registrar of American Samoa reported that their office had been broken into by unknown individuals, who gained entry through a bathroom window and took $275 and a gray USC sweater, which is the fourth case at this point.

On the evening of May 30, 2023 leading to the early morning of June 1, 2023, the Western Union establishment at the bottom corner of the Lumana’i building was also burglarized. Upon review of security camera footage, officers discovered that one individual was seen on camera who gained forced entry through the front door of the office and stole valuables within the office, which were an iPad, Nike Air Jordan shoes, and a few coins in the cash register.

The burglar caught on security cameras of the Western Union burglary had the exact description as the individuals who burglarized JM Mart.

The sixth company to be affected by these strings of burglaries was Sosene’s Barbershop, adjacent to FiaFia restaurant across from the Port (in the Samoa News building, downstairs). Initial reports revealed that the burglar broke the padlock to the front door of the barbershop and gained entry. Officers canvassed the scene and recovered the padlock on a staircase leading to the second floor of the building.

Unfortunately for the, burglars, they did not get anything from the barbershop, as the owner of Sosene’s barbershop did not store any cash at his place of business.

The very next day, on June 2, 2023 at 9 P.M, the Samoa Sports Inc. was broken into, and officers discovered that the burglars forced entry through the front door and stole items varying from various clothes, hats and caps, that totaled about $1,099.

On June 5, 2023 at 10 A.M, detectives proceeded to locate the residence of Sileti and upon arriving in the area, were directed to his residence by a neighbor. When detectives arrived at his residence, they met with an individual who identified herself as Sileti’s girlfriend.

Detectives then asked the girlfriend if Sileti was home, to which she told them he was sleeping in their room and went to get him. She returned and informed the officers that Sileti was no longer in the room and must’ve left when he heard the police. Sileti’s girlfriend then provided DPS with his information and cops advised the girlfriend if he returned, he should come down to the police station for questioning.

Afterwards, the girlfriend directed the detectives to one of Sileti’s cousin’s house next to their home, and told them that cousin always hangs out with Sileti.

Detectives proceeded to the house of Sileti’s cousin and met with his father, who allowed officers into the home and directed them to his son’s bedroom, where he was sleeping. The cousin was then asked to come into the CID office for questioning.

On June 8, 2023 at 9 P.M, Sileti’s cousin was Mirandized and made a statement naming Sileti as the mastermind behind the string of burglaries and also admitted to breaking into all the places of business identified in the affidavit.

Sileti’s cousin, unnamed in this case due to being a minor, was released back to his mother and left the CID office that same day.

Sileti Seiuli is being charged with 5 counts of felony crime of burglary, 5 counts of felony crime of stealing, and 5 counts of trespass as a misdemeanor crime, with a bail set at $20,000.

(Samoa News is assuming that Mr. Seiuil is at this time, still at large, as no arrest is mentioned in the affidavit.)