The Rayburn offices are near the Capitol building. Flickr user OZinOH
Booze, cologne and cuff links: House offices plagued by thefts
At least five congressional offices have been burglarized since April.
The office of Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., is the first Democrat's, and fifth member's overall, to be burglarized since a spree hit House office buildings in April, according to a U.S. Capitol Police report obtained by National Journal on Tuesday.
Items went missing from McIntyre's Rayburn office between Aug. 3 and Sept. 11, and the thefts were reported to the police on Sept. 11.
It is possible that other instances of theft have occurred, but Capitol Police records lag. It looks as though a pattern is emerging as many of the stolen items are similar to those taken in previous instances.
McIntyre's is now the third Rayburn office known to have been targeted. The thief or thieves seem to have the same affinity for expensive alcohol and memorabilia as whoever burglarized the Rayburn offices of Reps. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., in April and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., in September.
McIntyre's office lost two bottles of Scotch, three presidential Easter eggs, two bottles of cologne, and 10 pairs of collector's cuff links, each valued at $100. Other missing memorabilia from Rayburn includes Gallegly's collection of license plates, and Lewis's four autographed baseballs, six bottles of wine, and a set of presidential Easter eggs.
Longworth thieves appear to be interested in high-priced tech equipment. The Longworth offices of Reps. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Jon Runyan, R-N.J., which are next to each other, were robbed in April; Runyan's was hit twice. A digital camera and computer monitor were among the stolen items.
Although police have not reported any cracks in the known cases yet, Lt. Kim Schneider, a spokeswoman for the Capitol Police, said that the agency, "currently has an active, open investigation regarding the recent theft reports and continues to work diligently to solve these cases."
McIntyre's is now the third Rayburn office known to have been targeted. The thief or thieves seem to have the same affinity for expensive alcohol and memorabilia as whoever burglarized the Rayburn offices of Reps. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., in April and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., in September.
McIntyre's office lost two bottles of Scotch, three presidential Easter eggs, two bottles of cologne, and 10 pairs of collector's cuff links, each valued at $100. Other missing memorabilia from Rayburn includes Gallegly's collection of license plates, and Lewis's four autographed baseballs, six bottles of wine, and a set of presidential Easter eggs.
Longworth thieves appear to be interested in high-priced tech equipment. The Longworth offices of Reps. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Jon Runyan, R-N.J., which are next to each other, were robbed in April; Runyan's was hit twice. A digital camera and computer monitor were among the stolen items.
Although police have not reported any cracks in the known cases yet, Lt. Kim Schneider, a spokeswoman for the Capitol Police, said that the agency, "currently has an active, open investigation regarding the recent theft reports and continues to work diligently to solve these cases."