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Burglary ring investigation continues — 5 suspects believed to be involved

COURT REPORT LOGO
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Public Safety’s investigation into a burglary ring that allegedly targets residential, business and government facilities in the Nuuuli, Tafuna and Iliili area continues, with 5 suspects currently in its sights. It’s unknown at this time, if any of the men identified by the investigation are in custody.

Establishments hit were the Territorial Bank of American Samoa- Tafuna Branch (TBAS), ASG Department of Treasury Customs Division- K9 Kennel Office, ASG Department of Treasury Customs Division warehouse, Pacific Mini Part Retail/ Whole Warehouse, Pago Pago Trading Company (PPTC), and the ASG Sports Complex- Golf Course.

A majority of the stolen items remain unrecovered, according to the court affidavits, issued Jan. 14, 2025.

Charges against three of the five suspects, who have been identified by the DPS, include burglary, stealing, trespassing, conspiracy to commit stealing, attempted stealing, conspiracy to commit arson, attempted arson, and property damage.

Two of the 5 suspects, according to court affidavits, “are currently at large and have yet to be interviewed regarding their involvement” in the cases.

The five suspects are Fa’avae Logoai, Fa’asi’i AKA “John” Aupaau, Lorenzo Sualoa, Hymie AKA “Small” Sefo and Vani Vaega. Aupaau and Vaega are the two suspects still at large according to court affidavits filed on Jan. 14, 2025.

Logoai is reported to own a landscaping company and employs Sualoa and Aupaau, as well as the passenger of the truck that was stopped during a stakeout.

Bail for the three suspects range from $ 70,000 to $ 100,000 — Samoa News understands that reduction of bail amounts may have been requested, but cannot confirm if that has happened.

The filed affidavits of the three men describe the investigation of the 6 alleged burglaries, which occurred between Nov 20, 2024 and Dec. 9, 2024.

TBAS- TAFUNA BRANCH

Occurred on Nov. 20, 2024, reported as a fire behind the bank. “Upon arrival, responding officers determined that the fire consisted of burning boxes of bank slips. Forced entry into the bank was observed ot have been made through a back window,” the affidavit states.

While the DPS reports no significant items were stolen, property damage was documented. Surveillance footage from the night of the incident revealed two suspects each wearing a hooded sweatshirt. No faces were described.

ASG - TREASURY CUSTOMS - K9 KENNEL OFFICE

Happened on Nov. 30, 2024, with the incident reported as unidentified male breaking into the office, after cutting a hole in the wire fence separating the ASG- Dept. of Agriculture from the Customs Kennel Office.

An initial inventory “identified the stolen items as boxes of vapes (e-cigarettes), boxes of foreign cigarettes, and four 12-gauge shotguns.” It was confirmed on a later date by the Kennel Supervisor “that other missing items that weren't initially reported at the time the incident were four (4) Paint Ball guns… about two (2) Archery Bows missing from within their storage, after conducting a thorough inventory of their storage room.”

Surveillance footage showed a “male suspect with a shirt concealing his face …walking around inside the K9 Kennel Office,” for about an hour.

ASG- TREASURY CUSTOMS WAREHOUSE

Break-in happened on Dec. 5, 2024 in the early morning hours, reportedly by two unidentified individuals who were revealed on surveillance footage of the incident walking into the warehouse. Both covered their faces with their shirts. However, one of the suspects was observed as having distinctive tattoos on both forearms as well as “a tattoo on the outer portion of his right calf”.

“According ot the reporter, the stolen items included a bicycle, a bolt cutter, a drill, and .22 caliber live ammunition.”

PACIFIC MINI MART (PMM) RETAIL & WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE- TAFUNA

Occurring on Dec. 6, 2024, again in the early hours of the morning, the burglars entered the warehouse through the main entrance, “a  roll- down security shutter that was apparently left unlocked from the inside.”

The affidavit reports that “the burglars had likely lifted the shutter, entered the building, and proceeded directly ot the electrical control panel to disable the electricity.”

Value of items stolen were estimated the warehouse owner to be around $6,680.00, The owner confirmed to police that there were no surveillance cameras installed in or around the warehouse. However, “a video clip retrieved from the adjacent Tool Shop Building showed a truck entering the warehouse compound at 0322 hours and exiting onto the highway at 0328 hours on the night of the burglary.”

PPTC WAREHOUSE & OFFICE

On Dec. 9, 2024, police met up with an employee of PPTC at the warehouse who reported that when she opened the warehouse she found that both “the electrical power and the internet connection were non-functional.” At that time, “with another employee, she conducted a thorough inspection to identify the source of the issue, only to find that the warehouse had been burglarized.”

They further reported that a locked safe, located on the warehouse's second floor, was missing. She notified her supervisors, who subsequently alerted the  police department.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that the intruders) had forcibly entered the warehouse and removed a red lock [sic] safe, which contained approximately $114,042.37 in cash, spare keys, registration documents for the company vehicles, and personal documents. Furthermore, investigators recovered several tools at the scene, including a flat pry crowbar, a hammer, a steel sledgehammer, a steel pipe wrench, and a black duffle bag.”

The policed estimated the total amount of damages done and cash taken during the PPTC burglary is $117,600 USD.

ASG- SPORTS COMPLEX- GOLF COURSE

Occurring on Dec. 12, 2024, it is reported that this burglary happened while police were actively investigating matters involving two of the suspects in the previous burglaries that had been picked up in the course of the investigation into them. The Golf Course burglary was reported by an employee of the golf course who contacted the Fagatogo Police headquarters to report an attempt to steal their ride-on lawn mower.

A vehicle with a trailer attached was described by the reporter when police arrived on the scene, as potentially involved in the attempted burglary. Other items identified as stolen included two Echo gas blowers, a battery charger, and a welding machine.

The two burglars were surprised by two golf employees who went out for coffee and returned to discover what was happening. As a result, only the blowers, charger, and welder were taken, the lawn mower was left behind. The vehicle used was captured by several surveillance cameras en route the golf course, up to the golf course which shows the lock cut at the entrance of the area that they used to try and load up their loot.

LEAD UP TO ARRESTS

Due to the numerous reports regarding break-ins with in the Tafuna business district, “the CID, assisted by personnel from the Vice and Narcotics Division, instituted a stakeout aimed at apprehending the unknown burglar or burglars, as well as preventing further incidents at businesses and governmental offices.”

It was on Dec. 12, 2024, the stakeout which was happening in the early hours of the morning, observed “a vehicle was observed traveling along Fa Street, near the ASG Government Housing at Lions Park, adjacent to the Juvenile Detention Center.” The vehicle was seen dropping off two male individuals, dressed in dark clothing and carrying flashlights, who began moving toward the Bio Diversity Office. The vehicle left the area after dropping off the two males. Unfortunately, the two males seem to realize they were being watched and walked away from the building, managing to flee undetected by the detectives pursuing them.

An hour later, two of the police officers who were also a part of the stakeout “heard a loud pounding sound originating from the Fa Street area, followed by the distinct sound of a vehicle door slamming shut. Considering the unusual nature of these sounds at that hour ni a government area, we immediately left our post to investigate.”

Approaching Fa Street area, the officers say they met up with a dark gray pickup truck, which they stopped. The two officers who had initially seen the truck dropping of the two males who had fled joined the officers at the scene where the truck was stopped. And upon inspection of the vehicle, one of the officers matched the description of the truck to the one that they saw earlier near the Bio Diversity Office. The driver of the vehicle was identified as matching the description of one of the males seen attempting to break into the office.

The driver was identified as Lorenzo Sualoa, who claimed he was there to dump trash on ASG property. Upon inspection of the trash he claimed to have dumped improperly, police found a blue bolt cutter — which was noted in the affidavit to be identified by the owner of PMM as theirs which had been stolen from their warehouse on Dec. 6, 2024.

The vehicle with a trailer attached was impounded and taken to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS), along with Sualoa and his passenger for further investigation.

Sualoa was Mirandized at TPS and he agreed to make an oral and written statement.

In his statement, Sualoa said that the owner of the vehicle was Fa’avae Logoai, and explained that he worked for Logoai as a driver and “apart from Logoai, he is the only person who operates the vehicle.” He noted that it was Logoai that told them to attached the trailer and clear the load (trash) it was carrying.

Sualoa was then informed of the possible involvement of the truck in multiple break-ins, “including the area where he and his passenger were observed and subsequently detained.” He was also shown the surveillance footage that captured the truck and its driver participating in the PMM warehouse burglary on Dec. 6th.

At this time, Sualoa admitted to being involved in the PMM burglary, and named Vani Vaega, John Aupa’au and Hymie Sefo as other participants. He also confirmed that they used Logoa’i’s truck during the incident. He described the burglary including what they stole — cases of corned beef, Clorox and sodas, and unloading them into a room he referred to as “the Storage”.

The suspect was also questioned regarding the break-in at TBAS, PPTC and ASG  - Customs, Kennels and warehouse.

For TBAS, he identified Aupa’au and Sefo as the perpetrators and admitted to being the driver who dropped off and later picked up the suspects. He also told investigators that the two suspects had intentionally tried to burn the building.

For PPTC, he denied knowledge or involvement, but identified from a photo of tools recovered at the scene, as belonging to Logoai. “He also confirmed that these were the same tools Aupa'au and Sefo had used during the TBAS break-in.”

And, for the Customs premises, while once again denying any knowledge or involvement, when shown surveillance footage from both TBAS and Customs break-ins, Sualoa “positively identified Aupaau as one of the individuals involved in both incidents.”

(Of note, the passenger of the truck brought in with Sualoa, refused to cooperate or provide any statement regarding the matter. Both males were also found to be in possession of a controlled substance and that matter was referred to Vice & Narcotics Division for further investigation.)

The registered owner of the vehicle driven by Sualoa, Logoai was contacted via phone about the truck and trailer being impounded at TPS. He was also informed that the truck was “under investigation for multiple violations, including littering, and its involvement in an attempted break-in of a government building.” In addition, Logoai was told of the driver and passenger of the truck being found with an illegal controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine.

On Dec. 12th, Logoai arrived at TPS and was briefed about the incident involving his vehicle and trailer. He requested the release of the trailer as it was “essential for his landscaping business as it was used to transport equipment needed to clean the Nu'uuli area that morning.” He was accompanied by Aupa’ua, who transferred the trailer to the back of a black SUV. Logoai was observed driving the truck at that time, and both men left TPS at 5 am with the trailer attached.

It was on this same day that the attempt to steal the ride-on lawn mower at the Iliili Golf Course was reported. Subsequent investigation of the incident led to Logoai and Aupa’au being identified as the two males who were involved by the reporter of the incident and a witness — both describing the vehicle through photographs of the SUV and trailer, taken by police before they departed from TPS earlier that morning.

“Logoai's vehicle was captured by several surveillance cameras while en route to the golf course, starting from when it left the Tafuna substation, upon which it headed straight to the Ili'ili golf course where they cut the bold lock at the entrance of the gate to the ASTCA compound and entered and backed up their vehicle and tried to load up the ride-on lawn mower, but were only able to load up the lighter stuff such as the blowers, battery and charger, and welder.”

EXECUTION OF SEARCH WARRANT

On Dec. 13, 2024, C.I.D. personnel and the Vice & Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at Fa'avae Logoai’s residence in Nu'uuli. The search lasted four hours, and both Logoai and his wife were present during the search. In addition, a separate building adjacent to Logoai’s residence, owned by his sister and utilized by her brother as storage for his landscaping business was reached with her consent. The storage building yielded several items matching the descriptions of stolen property from the burglaries being investigated.

Logoai was then requested to come to the CID office for an interview, which he did the same day — accompanied by his wife and his attorney. He informed police he did not wish to be interviewed regarding the incidents, and he was subsequently released.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The investigation is continuing, and to date also involves counter checks (also known as temporary checks) belonging to PPTC that were in the stolen safe, which were allegedly cashed as personal checks belonging to Faavae Logoai, at a local business.