Joseph Iakopo has been charged in connection with 14 burglaries involving six stores, a church, two restaurants and five homes, and is now behind bars on a $150,000 bail and charged with 34 criminal counts. The criminal charges range from burglary first and second degree, attempted burglary, stealing, first degree assault and property damage and if convicted on all charges Iakopo is looking at being incarcerated for a very long time.

Twenty-year-old Iakopo who was being held at the Tafuna Correctional Facility for other burglary cases made his initial appearance in the District Court yesterday, after he was served with an arrest warrant by the Criminal Investigation Division.

OCEAN STORE

The government’s case alleges on a 30-page affidavit that on January 30, 2013 the defendant allegedly broke into the store and he gained entrance through the ceiling resulting in the ceiling being damaged. Court filings say that the store owner heard a loud noise and upon entering the kitchen he saw two legs hanging from the ceiling and during the investigation the defendant was a possible person of interest.

Detective Poutoa Poutoa, accompanied by CID Commander Lavatai Sagapolutele interrogated the defendant who was the main suspect in multiple burglary cases.

According to the government’s case, Iakopo allegedly admitted that he went to the side of the Ocean Store in Nu’uuli and was able to enter into the store by breaking the ceiling and climbing into the store, however as he kicked open the ceiling he saw a light coming from inside  and that’s why he left. The property damaged at the Ocean store came to a value of $400.

CANTON MART

Court filings say, on February 3, 2013 police officers were informed about an attempted burglary of the Canton Mart, in Lepuapua. It’s alleged that police investigations uncovered a video footage showing a man unscrewing a light bulb and turning the camera away from the door and the defendant also attempted to pry the railings of the store window with a crowbar.

According to the government’s case, the defendant admitted that he climbed up and turned the camera around and that he found a crowbar in the restroom, which he used to try and pry open the window, however when he heard someone, he left.

JANICE COLD SPOT STORE

According to the government’s case, on the same night of the Canton Mart attack,  the defendant went to Janice Cold Spot in Lepuapua where Iakopo allegedly entered the store and a video footage showed the defendant covering his face with a shirt.

The defendant told police that after leaving Canton Mart he went behind the Janice Cold Spot store where he entered and while inside the store he pried open the cash register which was empty, so he left. The damage to this store was in the amount of $300.

VAIALA MART

Court filings say that on that same night Iakopo allegedly broke into another store in Pava’ia’i called Vaiala Mart. It’s alleged that the police were contacted by a woman who lives next door.  Upon arriving at Vaiala Mart, the officers observed the owner of the store with an injured left arm prior to being transported to the ambulance for treatment.

The store owner told the police that he had walked out of his room and saw an unknown person run toward the back door and while trying to stop that person, he felt a sharp object pierce his shoulder.  Police spoke to Iakopo who allegedly admitted that he gained access into the store through the roof and he went to the cash register and took cigarettes and then went to the back and opened the door to the warehouse area, where he found a knife in the sink. Court filings state that the defendant then proceeded into another room and encountered an Asian man sleeping who woke up, looked at him and screamed out loud.

It’s alleged that the defendant turned his flashlight into the Asian man’s eyes, and swore at him and asked him where the money was. The government alleges that the defendant saw the store owner who grabbed a box and threw it at him (the defendant), He then stabbed the store owner with a knife and kicked him in the stomach. Court filings say, there was no damage to his store, however, a carton of cigarettes was taken during the burglary, resulting in a loss of approximately $30.

UNION WORLD STORE

The government claims, that on March 11, 2013, it was reported to the police that an unknown person had broken into the store in the evening. It’s alleged that upon arriving police officers saw a hole where it appeared someone had gained entrance. In this matter, several items were taken from the store, including gold necklaces, ASTCA phone cards, ($90), a Kiuri Machine, a Zumba portable DVD, speakers, and rolls of quarters worth approximately $30.

When police spoke to the defendant, he allegedly admitted that he remembered going into Union World in Nuu’uli and broke into the store through the air conditioner vent located on the outside of the store building. Court filings allege that Iakopo admitted that he took merchandise including gold necklaces, phone cards, speakers, clothes and an earphone from the store, but did not take any money. He said he threw away the gold necklaces.

It’s alleged the damage was valued at  $150. 

KAPAMILYA STORE

According to court filings, on March 13, 2013 police officers were contacted that someone tried to break into the “Kapamilya store” located at the Litani complex in Nuu’uli.

During the course of the investigation, police officers observed a glass door to the store was shattered. The owner of the complex told police that during the evening hours he was awoken by a loud blast, like a glass door shattering and upon running outside, saw that someone was trying to break into the store.

Police also spoke to defendant about this case, and the defendant allegedly admitted to breaking into Kapamilya Store. It’s alleged he told police when he got to Litani’s complex, he went around to the back, and there he found a piece of steel which he used to strike the door, however,  people from the store woke up and he fled the area and went to Toa Bar and Grill. Court filings say the damage to the glass door at the Kapamilya store was approximately $310.

TOA’S BAR AND GRILL

The next day, the manager of Toa’s Bar and Grill reported to police that someone had broken into the restaurant.  According to an employee at Toa’s, when they opened the cash register at the beginning of the day to count the money, they noticed that the register was short $100. Police viewed the surveillance footage from Toa’s where officers viewed an unknown person entering the restaurant through a window by removing the screen wire, then going to the cash register and grabbing a drink from the refrigerator from within the bar. 

The government claims that during the follow-up investigations, Iakopo’s name was mentioned as a possible person of interest. Police questioned the defendant who allegedly admitted that when he got to Toa Bar,  he went towards the back, broke the window where he entered, opened the cash register and took the money inside, then went home. The government claims the damage to Toa Bar was approximately $150.

LUCKY DRAGON RESTAURANT

On March 13, 2013, it was reported to police that someone broke into the “Lucky Dragon” in Maleimi. Police arrived at the scene and observed the window at the Lucky Dragon was shattered and money was taken from inside the restaurant. Owner of the Lucky Dragon informed police that items taken included $300 cash, a Nokia cellular phone and other merchandise. 

In court filings, defendant’s name came up during follow-up investigations as a possible person of interest in this matter and when questioned about the break-in at Lucky Dragon restaurant, the defendant allegedly admitted to it.

It’s alleged the defendant told police that he was intoxicated that night and walked to Lucky Dragon and when he arrived he noticed the security guard near the area was asleep, and he waited for three cars to pass before he shattered the window to the Lucky Dragon. It’s alleged the defendant went inside looking for money and then left. The government claims the damage to the Lucky Dragon was approximately $850.

Samoa News will report on the burglaries of a church and residences, allegedly tied to this same defendant, in our Monday edition.