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Subscribe to RSSCash, signed historical objects, computer equipment and other expensive electronics have been stolen in a rash of break-ins and thefts at some House office buildings, sources tell NBC News.
Nothing stolen jeopardizes national security, the sources say. There was no information on which offices were targeted, and no suspects have been named.
But the thefts are annoying for House members: Under House rules, members can be stuck with paying to replace stolen items from their office budgets. Many feel that's unfair, saying that security is the job of the Capitol police, not their office personnel.
In a statement, the Capitol police said it was investigating the break-ins.
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On Thursday, the House Administration Committee issued a letter telling members how to seek relief from liability for stolen items:
Dear Colleague:
In response to the recent reports of theft occurring around the Capitol Complex, the Committee on House Administration would like to assure Member offices that the United States Capitol Police (USCP) has taken immediate action to increase surveillance and police patrol activity throughout the House office buildings.
To assist the Capitol Police in their efforts, the Committee asks that all offices remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to the USCP Criminal Investigations Section ....
Additionally, the Committee requests that offices immediately report stolen items to the USCP House Division at x5-0400.
If House equipment has been stolen from your congressional office, you may seek relief from personal liability for the item(s) by submitting a request to the Committee with a copy of the police report. Please note that Members are not subject to personal reimbursement liability or fees if granted a waiver.
If you have additional questions related to the procedures for stolen items, please do not hesitate to contact the Committee ....
Sincerely, Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA)
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I think it's hilarious that there is a theft problem in the building occupied by the biggest bunch of thieves in the country.
I agree ..........Could not have said it any better.
And they're crying about having to pay for replacement! Grow up and take it like the rest of us have to. Capitol Police are there to make sure no one parks in your parking space, not protect your office equipment.
Get insurance and then let them tell you that you don't have enough missing to cover your deductible so no sense filing a claim, but since you inquired about it, we're going to raise your rates.
Just dream up another pork project to amend your loss to. We, the taxpayers, don't mind you getting a free ride....
I agree 100%
Totally agree with you Denver Bill. Ironic as hell.....honor among thieves, guess not. Can I fill out a waiver and be absolved of my tax liabilities??? Otherwise i'll have to go to plan B and hope that facebook dude adopts me.
I guess we need to give them all lie detector tests to see who is the thief....snicker snicker. I am cautiously doubtful any of them will pass.
hmmmm the House is rattling the debt ceiling issue and now there are break-ins ...... do I smell another Watergate? I love Conspiracy theories!
If Bill and Hillary can clean out the furniture and china from the White House why would the members of the House not learn from their previous leadership?
So instead of Congress ripping off the American taxpayer, they are getting ripped off. Poet justice.
Wouldn't surprise me if they were stealing their own stuff.................been stealing mine for years
Even the smallest businesses I know of have surveillance cameras WHERE ARE THEIRS? Did they just remove the disc?
It's President Obama's fault!
If Republicans in control of Congress are incapable of providing security for their own Congressional office buildings how can we possibly have any confidence they can offer credible oversight of agencies providing security for the rest of the country? You would think there would be video surveillance cameras covering every square inch of the common areas and all exits and that there is a complete record of every person entering the building. Amazing to hear security is so lax in such government buildings. Do you think terrorists are taking notes or just having a good laugh? (I couldn't resist blaming the Rebumblingcans, they are running the show).
My guess is they are supplying home offices on our dime and claiming theft. I mean really, can any Joe off the street just walk in any office and haul off anything he can get his hands on?
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! The thefts have been known about for years. I knew about them ever since I started filing a Federal Income Tax Return - He He. Almost all Americans that file a Federal Income Tax Return new about the thefts. I can't believe that they are just now finding out about the thefts. The thefts have been going on for years.
If we could just get the thieves to go to an airport, Homeland Security could do a radiation bomb and grope for the junk.
Are they sure it isn't our congressmen taking the stuff home and then reporting it stolen? They probably thought if they too it the tax payers would just cough up the money to replace it.
Theft in the Thieves' Market end of the capitol building? NOT so ironic.
Some one should check the politicians houses, I bet you'll find the stuff there.
Arrest all the Congressman's; men and women; lock their a** up, that our money!water board them.
An activist judge is only an activist when he decides against something you believe. These bigots are all over our country, they are mostly repubs. And the only thing they want is a constitution that agrees with them, the hell with justice, the hell with civil rights (think voting rights), they will do anything, go to any length to change the laws to agree with them, soon they will all start burning books.
I do not believe these thefts are break-ins. They are undoubtedly their own employees and staffers that are stealing the missing items, and nobody really wants to know who is doing it, and that's why nothing is being done about it. They want to ignore the problem and have somebody else pay for the items. No Way! This reminds me of a story of a man who came into a bank one day and claimed his father had gotten his pin number and cleaned out his bank account, and he wanted the money back from the bank. He was told that the bank would give him the money on the condition that he sign the paperwork needed to prosecute his father for fraud and identity theft. He refused. So he didn't get his money back. By the same token if your child steals from you, you either eat the loss or prosecute. You can't have it both ways.
If the staffers in Congress are stealing large office machines, what kind of congress do we have? Does everybody have to run through metal detectors and scanners to make sure they don't have paperclips in their pockets? If they want to employee thieves, let them pay for the stolen items.