I AM a Japanese woman residing in Saipan. Over the past 12 years, I have been subjected to multiple incidents including robbery, attempted robbery, theft, break-ins, property damage, and even attempted murder and assault by police officers.
Today, a new incident occurred, and I would like to express my serious concern regarding the worsening public safety in the area and my own personal security.
Today’s incident:
• Rear vehicle tail lights were destroyed
• Rear turn signals and tail lights rendered inoperable
• Rear wiring harness targeted, causing only the rear lights to stop functioning
• Attempted battery theft
• Signs of tampering with the fuel tank
• Glass damage that could only have been done using the car keys
• Unauthorized entry into the vehicle
Recent incidents:
• Front bumper damage
• Oil pan cover destroyed
• A dead cat left at the gate of my home
• Robbery, theft, and break-ins resulted in the seizure of house and car keys, green card, passport, merchandise, and cash
• Past robberies included extremely malicious acts inside the home, such as defecation
• Likely perpetrated by an organized group or the same individual, as it is highly probable that my car keys were used
In these incidents, the police have not collected fingerprints or evidence, and the cases remain unresolved. The Attorney General’s Office has not responded for over a year.
Issues with police response in today’s incident:
• Multiple officers interviewed me separately, forcing me to repeat the same information, causing significant mental stress
• On-site investigation was minimal; officers left quickly if the theft was not immediately apparent
• Evidence was not collected, leaving perpetrators free
• The same police team leader as before was in charge, revealing lack of coordination
Public Law 25-14, enacted in October of this year, is intended to improve public safety, but it has not been effective on the ground.
Victims are not protected, and the law has little deterrent or regulatory effect against criminal acts.
Ordinary residents, tourists, and content creators such as YouTubers or social media users may be unable to speak out due to fear or pressure.
Through this incident, I wish to convey the following points to the community and relevant authorities:
• The reality of what is happening on-site
• Insufficient and uncoordinated police response
• Ambiguity of the new law, which in practice does not function to protect residents or tourists
• The current situation in which ordinary citizens, tourists, and content creators are not protected
Photographic evidence of the incidents can be provided if necessary.
I sincerely hope this report will be taken seriously, and that Saipan will become a safe place where tourists can visit with peace of mind.
MAYUMI NAKADAI
Saipan, CNMI
