Hatred towards the police was the reason given by one of three young men who allegedly broke into the Ulalei sewing shop and Western Union office two weeks ago in Puapua, Leone.

Semurana Leaumoana and Amosa Ilalio are each held on bail of $20,000 on charges of first-degree burglary, stealing, underage consumption of alcohol and property damage third degree in connection with the burglary of the Ulalei Fashions sewing shop and the Western Union office. The pair made their initial appearance in court last week.  A third young man, a minor is also involved.

The burglary count is a class B felony punishable with five to 15 years in jail, stealing count is a class C felony which carries a jail term of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 while the two remaining charges are misdemeanors which carry jail terms of up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

According to the government’s case, on October 25, 2013 police were called to the site of a burglary at the Western Union and Ulalei Fashions in Puapua.  Upon arrival, police observed that the side door had been forcibly opened, and there were also footprints near the entry point.

Court filings say that the sewing shop and the Western Union Office were ransacked with drawers open, items scattered all over the floor, clothes in the sewing shop all over the floor and it appears that the burglars had tried to open the vault that was inside the shop. Police spoke to an employee of the sewing shop who said the sewing shop is right next to the Western Union office, and when she entered, she saw both places had been vandalized.

Court filings say, aside from the items scattered all over the place, the burglars managed to turn off the video surveillance camera. One employee told police that there was a young man who was later identified as Amosa who had come to the sewing shop the day before, sat around and asked to use the computer.

“While using the computer Amosa was looking all over the shop and “scanning every corner.”

The government claims that owners of the sewing shop and the Western Union office reported that roughly $3,930 worth of items was missing after the burglary, including $2,000 in cash and $200 in coins. Chargers for smart phones were also taken, along with a wireless router, an electric fan, sunglasses, speakers, food items and two donation boxes for Red Cross and the Filipino Community.

Court filings say that later that day, police interviewed Ilalio who said he had consumed beer with Leaumoana on the night in question.

After the drinking session Ilalio, along with "MT" (a juvenile) and Leaumoana walked towards the sewing shop/Western Union.

 Ilalio said all three of them went into the building and “rummaged through everything and did not find anything useful, so they exited the building and loitered outside before returning home.

"MT" told police that everything started the evening before when a police officer came and argued verbally with Ilalio, who came up with the idea to break into the building and ransack it because of his “hatred towards the police officer.”

MT said he watched Ilalio and Leaumoana both trying to carry the safe that was inside the Western Union Office. Court filings say that MT admitted to taking $3 that was on top of the radio.  It's unclear at this time if the government has filed criminal charges against "MT", the juvenile in this case.