Woman alleges former employee is stealing from her

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 16, 2025, a woman called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that a former employee allegedly stole from her.

The suspect was later charged with:

Count 1: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Stealing, a class C felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed seven years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant's bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Sept. 16th, a woman (the reporter) contacted the TPS to report an incident involving her former employee (the suspect). The reporter alleged that the suspect entered her residence/ company compound without permission and stole property from her home.

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival at the reporter's residence in Nu'uuli, they made initial contact with the reporter. According to the reporter, one of her workers had reported the incident to her on Sept. 15th.

Reportedly, the suspect arrived at the reporter's residence in his car and removed the car battery without her or her husband knowing. Her employees were afraid to approach the suspect due to his size.

Additionally, the reporter mentioned that the suspect was fired from his job last week due to poor performance.

Moreover, on the same day, the reporter's husband contacted the suspect to return the car battery before they called the police, but the suspect did not comply. Video footage was obtained from one of the witnesses' personal cellphones, and the officers identified the suspect as Sulutau Tea.

According to witness #1, who was present at the time of the incident, the suspect approached their office and wanted to retrieve an old car battery underneath the lumber outside. He (witness) attempted to contact the reporter, but the reporter's phone went unanswered.

He then stepped out of the office to see what the suspect was taking while continuing to try to reach his boss. Meanwhile, the suspect reversed his car into the warehouse. At the same time, he sent his boss a message regarding what was going on.

Witness #2 was also interviewed. He stated that he approached the suspect about taking the car battery without the boss's permission. However, he was afraid because the suspect was too big. At this time, the suspect reversed his car, took the old car battery, put it in his car, and left.

After the reporter provided the officers with the information and briefed them on the exact location of the suspect's residence, the officers located the suspect at that location. They informed him that his former boss had reported him for entering their residence without permission and for stealing the car battery.

According to the suspect, he had only gone there to get a car battery to jump his car, but he felt guilty and wrong for taking it without permission.

The affidavit does not state whether the suspect was booked or confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old citizen of Samoa.