Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 5, 2025, a male individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report that a male allegedly broke into his house with a kitchen knife and stole items valued at $3,000.00.

The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony punishable by imprisonment ofvnot less than 5 years, a fine, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Stealing, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than seven years, a fine of $5,000.00, or both; and,

Count 3: Property Damage, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500.00, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $30,000.00.

According to the court affidavit, on Jan. 5th, a male (later identified as the victim) contacted the TPS regarding Paulo Maugaotega (later identified as the suspect).

The victim alleged that the suspect broke into his house and took his wallet that had about $650.00- $750.00. He stated that all the other items that were stolen were estimated at a value of around $3,000.00. In addition, the suspect also took a bag containing his father’s phone.

Police arrived at the scene and met up with the victim who introduced himself and briefed the officers about what happened. The victim showed the officers the footage of the video camera that caught the suspect sneaking around the house. The officers also observed the suspect in the footage holding a kitchen knife that he used to cut the screen wire of one of the windows.

Upon asking the victim how he knew it was Paulo Maugaotega who was on the footage, he replied that it was because of how he walked. The victim also showed the footage to his dad, sister, and of his neighbors and they all said it was the suspect.

The victim then guided the officers throughout his house and pointed out the rooms that the suspect entered and also the door he entered and exited. The victim also told the officers that he didn’t lock his doors that night.

The officers took photos of where the suspect went and the overall house.

The victim also informed the officers that he saw the suspect walking back and forth from his house. Moreover, he told the officers that he will walk into the TPS on Monday to write a statement regarding the incident.

The officers patrolled the area and the suspect was nowhere to be seen. They instructed the victim to call the station if he sees the suspect around their area again.

At about 2:45 p.m., the victim contacted the TPS that they had found the suspect at his house in Asili. The officers responded and arrived at the suspect’s house around 3:00 p.m. The victim pointed out where the suspect was sitting at his house.

The officers apprehended the suspect and placed him in the police unit to be transported to the station for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station at about 3:24 p.m., the suspect was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement.

During the interview, the suspect admitted that he already sold the stuff that he took from the victim’s house. When asked where he sold the items, he said he sold them in Vaitogi but he refused to give any names. The suspect also mentioned that he went and tried to apologize to the victim for what he did.

The suspect was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

On January 6, 2025 at about 3:48 p.m., the victim walked into the TPS to write a statement, detailing what he had explained to the police when they came to the scene.

He added in his statement that the suspect then went and sold the stuff he stole and used the money, as that’s what the suspect’s older brother stated. The victim stated that the suspect’s brother witnessed everything the suspect did.

Moreover, he stated that the suspect’s brother was found at his house at about 2:20 p.m., where he called the police to come and take him.

The victim said he heard the suspect’s brother mention 100, 50 and 10 dollars that the suspect took with him. The victim stated that was the money in his wallet and the rough estimation of all stolen items was valued at $3,000.00.

The victim explained that his statement can be proved by the video footage from the cameras installed inside his house. He also stated that the video footage has been sent to the officers.

The defendant is identified as a 22-year-old U.S National.