Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 8, 2025, authorities investigated a reported residential burglary in the village of Vaitogi after a homeowner discovered that her house had been robbed and several items stolen during the early morning hours.

The suspect was later charged with:

Count 1: Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony punishable by imprisonment for more than five years and less than 15 years;

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 pursuant to an amount equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of the crime up to a maximum of $20,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 3: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the court affidavit filed on Dec. 9th in the District Court, the Tafuna Police Substation received a call at approximately 4:15 a.m. from a concerned neighbor reporting that a robbery had occurred at a nearby residence.

The caller advised authorities that the incident was believed to have taken place shortly after midnight.

Officers were immediately dispatched to the area to respond to the report and assess the situation.

Upon arrival in Vaitogi, responding officers met with the reporting party and the homeowner, who guided them to the residence where the incident occurred.

Officers secured the area and began conducting preliminary interviews in order to establish a timeline of events and determine the extent of the loss.

Police learned that the homeowner was not present at the Vaitogi residence at the time of the burglary. According to her statement, she had been staying at a secondary residence in Pavaia‘i that night, while a small number of friends or relatives were staying at her Vaitogi home. No one inside the house was aware that a break-in had occurred during the night.

The homeowner explained that it was her routine practice to wake up early each morning to review footage from her home surveillance system.

At approximately 3:30 a.m., she accessed the recordings and immediately noticed suspicious activity. The footage revealed an individual unlawfully entering and moving through the interior of the residence at around 12:10 a.m.

After confirming what appeared to be a burglary, the homeowner contacted a neighbor for assistance in reporting the incident to police while she traveled from Pavaia‘i to Vaitogi. Authorities were notified shortly thereafter, prompting the early-morning response by police.

Once she arrived at her home in Vaitogi, the homeowner conducted a careful check of the property to determine whether any items were missing. During this assessment, she discovered that several tools had been taken, which included a hammer drill and two angle grinders. In addition, a mobile phone belonging to one of the individuals staying at the residence was also reported stolen.

Police estimated the total value of the stolen items to be approximately $700.

Officers reviewed the surveillance footage provided by the homeowner as part of their investigation. According to police, the video showed the suspect first appearing inside the living room before moving toward the kitchen area. The camera, which was positioned at the upper right corner near the back door, later captured the suspect exiting the residence.

Investigators believe the suspect may have entered the home through a side door, although the exact point of entry could not be definitively determined. Officers reported that there were no visible signs of forced entry on any of the doors or windows, suggesting that the suspect may have gained access through an unlocked entryway.

The surveillance footage reportedly provided a clear view of the suspect’s face.

Based on the clarity of the video and familiarity with the individual, the suspect was identified as Leututu Ofiti, who is believed to reside in the same neighborhood.

Following the on-scene investigation, officers conducted a patrol of the surrounding area in an attempt to locate the suspect. Despite these efforts, the suspect was not located during the search.

After completing the patrol, officers returned to the station to continue documenting the case and to follow up on investigative leads. Police indicated that the investigation remains ongoing, and further efforts may be made to locate the suspect and recover the stolen property.

The defendant is identified as a 19-year-old U.S national.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]