A BUSINESS owner has drawn a connection between the Garapan Revitalization Project and two burglaries that have occurred at his restaurant this year.
Hideaki Sawada is president of Emperor Enterprise Corporation, which owns and operates Furusato Restaurant in Garapan. The Japanese restaurant is popular with locals, and is located at Paseo De Marianas, the heart of the tourist district. Just a few feet from Furusato’s front door, construction related to the Garapan Revitalization Project is ongoing.
On the morning of Jan. 4, 2023, Sawada said his front door and cash register were forcibly entered. There was, however, no cash in the register.
On March 6, 2023, he added, an individual tried to cut the lines to his security camera and then entered his third floor office.
Again, the burglar “didn’t get anything.”
“Even if we had a typhoon on Saipan, it never broke any door or glass. But this stealer damaged my restaurant,” Sawada said.
Pictures and videos that Sawada posted on social media have gone viral on Furusato’s Facebook page. The posts capture the moments an unmasked individual or unmasked individuals were in Sawada’s restaurant.
Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Sgt. Fred Sato said one of the suspects is already in the Department of Corrections for an unrelated crime.
But the other suspect who entered the restaurant and forced his way into the cash register had not been located, Sato said.
According to Marianas Variety files, the Garapan Revitalization Project construction will be completed in May 2024. Phase 1 of the project is now scheduled to be completed in May 2023 and not at the end of April as earlier announced.
“After they started construction in January, they told us it would be finished in three months, but now it’s almost the end of April and construction is ongoing. It looks like it is far from being completed,” Sawada said.
He said the two burglary incidents were perpetrated by individuals who had targeted his business.
“My waitress tells me that…she saw maybe two or three people always going around and checking this building,” he added.
Sawada said he had to replace the glass and wood of his front door. He has also erected a barricade to his back staircase. All in all, he said it has cost him hundreds of dollars to further secure his property.
Sawada said his restaurant has been in operation for 23 years, but has only recently encountered crimes like this.
“There aren’t many bad people here in Garapan,” he said. “It used to be very safe when we had a complete road.”
He is also frustrated by the lack of lighting at Paseo De Marianas.
At night, the area that barricades the staircase to his third floor office is very dark. Other areas around Paseo De Marianas have some lighting, but not all of them are illuminated.
Sawada said there is also a lack of eyewitnesses to catch any crime in the area.
“Once this road [project] finishes, and then they put up lights, and if police go around every hour — then these thieves will stop. Right now they know there’s no police in this area. Even the koban is closed, which is why they’re relaxed to steal,” Sawada said.
He said the burglary incidents have left his staff frightened for their safety.
Hideaki Sawada stands in front of the barricade he erected to keep would-be burglars away from his office. He is pointing to where his office is located.
The interior of Furusato Restaurant is seen after a forced entry in January.
The damaged door of Furusato Restaurant is seen in January.
An individual is seen behind the cash register of Furusato Restaurant.
Two individuals are seen entering the third floor walkway of the building where Hideaki Sawada’s office is located.
An individual makes his way to Hideaki Sawada’s office. He would later try to force his way into the office.
