CALIFORNIA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SAN DIEGO CITY HALL Burglars Vandalized San Diego City Hall | KIII TV3 | Latest Headlines


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January 3, 2008)

SAN DIEGO--Police are investgating a burglary at the San Diego City Hall. which happened last weekend, when thieves ransacked the building, leaving a big mess behind.

Five days after the crime, officers decided to bring in a Texas Ranger to help out with the investigation. By bringing him in, the agency means business as they want to find out who was responsible for this crime.

Police said vandals broke down the back door to get into the City Hall on Sunday morning. They, then ransacked the building and stole a safe with $200.

"It was a big mess all over the place," said Alonzo Lopez Jr., who is the San Diego Mayor. "We had everything thrown all over the place."

Officers said they took two computers and two monitors from the City Judge's office. It's believed they did this to get rid of some court documents.

"They probably thought by taking these computers we wouldn't have records, but everything is backed up," said Chief Joe Olvera of the San Diego Police Department.

The city judge said they're now concerned about identity theft.

"If there was any records taken, we're not too sure what was taken, especially citations, it has personal information on the violators like driver license numbers, phone numbers," said Juan F. Garcia, who is the San Diego Municipal Court Judge.

While inside the municipal court judge's office, we're told by police investigators they took a book like this, which explains what the judge does while inside the courtroom. They also took a gavel. Then they walked over here to this other room and made time to even take some Christmas cookies that were left on this table.

"Inside the office, those items were also taken. Why? I don't know," Chief Olvera said.

Now a Texas Ranger is helping out with the investigation. City leaders are confident the criminals will be caught.

"If they don't have any respect, we're going to catch them, I know we will," Mayor Lopez said.

That's a promise the mayor hopes he can keep.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com