Police report says break-in at Democratic Party HQ suspicious
SEATTLE (AP) - A preliminary police report suggests an Election Day burglary at the headquarters of the state Democratic Party might be something other than a routine break-in.
The majority of items taken belonged to important campaign workers, and the burglar attempted to make it look like a random crime, the report states.
Police are still investigating and won't speculate on why the office was targeted.
"Unless we know who the suspects are, it's kind of hard to figure out a motive," spokesman Mark Jamieson said Thursday. "I wouldn't read too much into the initial report taken by the patrol officers at the scene. The real work is done by the follow-up units."
Jamieson said burglary detectives don't see anything suspicious, besides the initial break-in.
Workers arriving about 5:30 a.m. Nov. 6 found the front door smashed. Police secured the building and found offices ransacked. In addition to the Democratic Party, the building held offices for Jay Inslee's campaign for governor and Organizing for America, the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama.
A window had been broken to get into a director's office and confidential files were rifled through and moved. Other offices that were hit included the media coordinator and fundraising section. A trash can was dumped and used to haul away the stolen property.
The majority of items taken belonged to people who "were of major importance to the campaigns," the report states.
Several computers and alcoholic beverages were left untouched, according to the report.
"The suspect/s were there to collect specific items but attempted to make it look like a random burglary," according to the report.
The police description of the incident with names blacked out was obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request.
The state Democratic Party is waiting for police to finish their work, said spokesman Benton Strong.
"It's premature to make any guesses what or why it happened," he said Wednesday. "We know offices were broken into and a lot of things were stolen."
"I have no idea if there's more to it," he said.
Inslee spokeswoman Jaime Smith said her laptop was among the stolen items, but she wouldn't speculate on a motive.
The majority of items taken belonged to important campaign workers, and the burglar attempted to make it look like a random crime, the report states.
Police are still investigating and won't speculate on why the office was targeted.
"Unless we know who the suspects are, it's kind of hard to figure out a motive," spokesman Mark Jamieson said Thursday. "I wouldn't read too much into the initial report taken by the patrol officers at the scene. The real work is done by the follow-up units."
Jamieson said burglary detectives don't see anything suspicious, besides the initial break-in.
Workers arriving about 5:30 a.m. Nov. 6 found the front door smashed. Police secured the building and found offices ransacked. In addition to the Democratic Party, the building held offices for Jay Inslee's campaign for governor and Organizing for America, the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama.
A window had been broken to get into a director's office and confidential files were rifled through and moved. Other offices that were hit included the media coordinator and fundraising section. A trash can was dumped and used to haul away the stolen property.
The majority of items taken belonged to people who "were of major importance to the campaigns," the report states.
Several computers and alcoholic beverages were left untouched, according to the report.
"The suspect/s were there to collect specific items but attempted to make it look like a random burglary," according to the report.
The police description of the incident with names blacked out was obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request.
The state Democratic Party is waiting for police to finish their work, said spokesman Benton Strong.
"It's premature to make any guesses what or why it happened," he said Wednesday. "We know offices were broken into and a lot of things were stolen."
"I have no idea if there's more to it," he said.
Inslee spokeswoman Jaime Smith said her laptop was among the stolen items, but she wouldn't speculate on a motive.
A better question would be "What are alcoholic beverages doing in an office in the first place?"
I was hoping it was in Northgate and that they entered by cutting the lock on the fence, so we could call it Northgate Gate Gate.
"Several computers and alcoholic beverages were left untouched, according to the report"
Mormon burglars?
 @BobDobbs If they left the coffee pot untouched too, you know it must be true.
@BobDobbs ha ha!!! Too funny!
With all of the security cameras around town, I think they might be able to solve this.
"Hi this is Carl Berstein of the Washington Post." "Hi This is Bob Woodward of the Washing Post."
As opposed to a non-suspicious break-in? I get that they were looking for specific items, but it seems like a silly distinction to make. "Potentially politically motivated" might have been more accurate.
it was the Grinch trying to steal the election
Yeah the chances of it being random the morning of election day is.... pretty much nil.  Regardless of party, this is despicable behavior. I'd find it equally vile had it been R headquarters.Â
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Clearly these thieves haven't learned their history. Watergate backfired bigtime.
I can't believe that the alcoholic beverages were left behind... What an idiot!!! you empty a trash can so you can haul off the loot, and don't take the booze... And they wanted to make it look like a random burglary, obviously they weren't to bright..Â
Sounds like it was done by a "jackass!" ;)
and alcoholic beverages were left untouched......
So not was it only an inside job, the Democratic operatives who pulled it off were SOBER??
Bizarro world indeed.....
 @Sydthepiper Nice leap in logic there. Can I have some of what you've been drinking?
 @Sydthepiper Let's see.  Perpetrators who are against the Democratic Party, and who also don't drink alcohol.  Hmmmm......
 @Sydthepiper so.... you were one of the thieves it seems...
 @tufa23 Son, if you think I'm a democrat, then you really don't want to know any Republicans.......not your cup of Tea.
...and it only took them this long to figure this out?
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BRILLIANT!
LOL "Police report says break-in at Democratic Party HQ suspicious". Gee, ya think? The brilliance of journalism just kills me.
 @Hunter Today's weather forecast predicts the sun will rise in the east and set in the west. Details at 11.
Someone is getting very desperate
 @TruthinAdverts Yes, and I think we will find that the "desperate" person is NOT a republican.
 @acepaul You "think" that exactly why? Because the Republicans have never shown a propensity to commit crimes for political reasons.... Now that's a knee-slapper.Â
@acepaul @TruthinAdverts - while that may be true acepaul, it sure looks 'funny' in a 'nixonian' way.
sounds like something Nixon would do.
Once you swallow the Fox News propaganda that the Democratic party is not only illegitimate but evil, you can rationalize any wrongdoing, from burglary to murder.
@Sutekh hmm you sound a bit bitter and bias that any one can have a opinon that does not meet up with your opinon. You must be very narrow minded.
 @wynooheeman  @Sutekh I'm sorry, what language is that?
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 @John E. Wraughton None are so blind as those who won't see.
 @John E. Wraughton  @Sutekh lets see.. when did Faux first go on the air?
 @KieferSkunk  @Sydthepiper  @tufa23  @John E. Wraughton  @Sutekh I'm more interested to see when Faux goes off the air
 @Sydthepiper  @tufa23  @John E. Wraughton  @Sutekh Okay, good. Now, answer the question: When did FOX NEWS go on the air? The question wasn't about MSNBC.
@tufa23@John E. Wraughton@Sutekh
 tufa23  John E. Wraughton  SutekhÂ
lets see.. when did Faux first go on the air??
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MSNBC launched 07/15/1996.....there's your answer.
 @John E. Wraughton ....or just plain "nut-job" file.
Stay classy, repukes.
Seattlegate, plain and simple.
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 @John E. Wraughton Sid Vishess, is that you? I mean, how many painfully un-funny Republicans with a Sex Pistols fetish can there be?
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On second thought, I withdraw the question.
 @John E. Wraughton Did you just say Republicans are better at stealing than Democrats, and know how to better plan out the crime?Â
 @John E. Wraughton OK that's funny.......
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 @John E. Wraughton  @dg54321 Too bad Romney won't, because he lost.Â
 @John E. Wraughton  @dg54321 and so will we, loser.
 @John E. Wraughton A Democrat would have brought reuseable bags from P.C.C.
Seattle-gate?
Most burglaries are suspicious.
 @mstipton And apparently they are also 'routine'.
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"preliminary report suggests it might be something other than a routine break-in."
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In conclusion, burglaries in Seattle are both trustworthy and routine.
 @Landshark  @mstipton Routine = "Yeah, someone stole your stuff. If you're lucky we'll bust a chop shop or meth house with your stuff in the garage in 6-12 months. Hope you had insurance."
@Landshark @mstipton so what is a routine break in?
 @Landshark  @mstipton thank you for this morning laugh !
 @Komo Dragon  @Landshark  @mstipton I'll drink to that lol