SOMEONE took advantage of typhoon Chataan and the Liberation Day celebration.
Unidentified individuals forced their way through at least 10 offices in the Legislative Building on Capitol Hill this weekend.
The offices of House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan, Senate President Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, and Senate Minority Leader Reyes, R-Saipan, were forcibly opened.
The front door knobs of the offices of Reps. Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan, Frank DLG. Aldan, R-Saipan, and House Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao, R-Saipan, had scratches and marks of what appeared to be a pipe wrench that was apparently used in the attempt to break the door locks.
Torres and Hofschneider, in separate interviews yesterday, said the front door knobs of the offices of Reps. Andrew S. Salas, R-Saipan, Martin B. Ada, R-Saipan, and Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, and the Legislative Bureau also had the marks of a metal device with toothed jaws.
It was Torres who discovered the damaged door knobs. The lawmaker said that at around 10 a.m. yesterday he decided to go to his office to photocopy some documents.
He entered his office through the backdoor but was unable to open his front door leading to the copying room.
Torres went back to his house to get some tools to open the front door of his office. After opening the door, Torres saw the marks on the knob and also those in the other rooms. He immediately called the police who inspected every office in the building.
He said he and the police found that Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano’s backdoor was closed but was not locked.
Torres said he also called lawmakers to inform them of what happened.
Reyes told reporters that it was apparent that the people who forcibly opened his office were not interested in taking valuables but “were there to get documents.”
“What was surprising was that they did not take away a box on my desk that contained pieces of jewelry,” he said.
The senator lost his laptop worth $2,000, the battery back-up and some “important documents.” His desk drawers were also opened and his cigar box was broken.
He said the burglars also tried to open his brief case.
Hofschneider said his office camera was gone. He said the locks on his desk and those of his staff were also broken.
Police investigation is ongoing and PO1 David Quitugua promised to disclose more details about the incident today.
The speaker said he will call a meeting to discuss ways to tighten security at the Legislature.
