Police make arrests in Fagatogo burglaries — including Post Office

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An arrest warrant was issued on July 11, 2023 for Seiuli Seleti, who has been charged in a string of burglaries that targeted several businesses in the Fagatogo area — including the ASG Territorial Registrar’s Office and the U.S. Post Office.

After the warrant was issued, officers apprehended Seleti and Mirandized him. He opted to provide a statement about the incidents.

Seleti, who is being identified as suspect #1 in court filings, allegedly said that he and suspect #2 who is not being identified due to being a minor, broke into the Post Office on June 30, 2023 at 2a.m through a back door of the KVZK-TV building, where he pried open the door knob using a flathead screwdriver to gain access to the building.

When they gained entrance, Seleti said they saw a door that was connected to the Department of Health (DoH) Office and he pried the doorknob from the door and went into the DoH office where they stole three black Amazon tablets and a fake $100 bill on a desk.

According to the court document, suspects then saw a cabinet near the cement wall, climbed on top, removed the ceiling cover and climbed inside the ceiling and crawled to the other side of the Post Office ceiling, eventually gaining entrance to the Post office. When they gained access, they headed to the primary mail storage and began opening packages and took two Android phones from random packages. They proceeded to the main office and ransacked one of the desks in there, taking approximately $120. Afterwards they both exited the Post Office the same way they entered, and upon leaving the premises, Seleti stole black boots from the KVZK office.

On July 12, 2023 at 1:05p.m, suspect #2 was observed near Sweetie’s restaurant in Fagaotogo and officers approached him and informed him that they had information about him breaking in at the Post Office in Fagatogo. When officers and suspect #2 arrived at the Fagatogo Police station, they contacted suspect #2’s mother and informed her that he was involved in the break-in at the Post Office, and she immediately came to the CID office where she was present for the questioning of her son.

In the presence of his mother, suspect #2 was Mirandized and chose to make a statement about the break-in at the Post office on June 30, 2023. According to suspect #2, he was accompanied by Sileti and that they had planned the break-in at the Post office. He also confirmed Seleti’s statements in how they gained access, and also admitted that they opened random packages where there were piles of packages stacked.

In his initial court appearance on Friday, July 21, 2023, Seleti was charged with the felony crime of burglary – four counts, stealing – three counts, and misdemeanor crimes of stealing, trespassing – three counts, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Bail for Seleti is set at $5,000.