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Thursday, August 4, 2005
Burglars make off with congressman's clothes

CLAUDINE LoMONACO
lomonaco@tucsoncitizen.com

U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe's Sonoita house was broken into July 23 by a group of suspected illegal immigrants, said Santa Cruz Sheriff Tony Estrada.
A local friend of Kolbe's reported the break-in just after 5 p.m. when he noticed one of the home's doors was wide open.

Sheriff's deputies, Border Patrol agents, and Patagonia police responded to the home, which is 25 miles north of the border. They found piles of crumpled clothing and wet towels in the bathroom, a police report said.

The culprits apparently showed little interest in items of value, however, and left untouched a computer, television, and rifle. Instead, they appeared to have showered, prepared a meal in the microwave, and helped themselves to a change of the congressman's clothes.

"It was like a Rodeway Inn," Estrada said. "They stayed a day and then took off."

The scene was consistent with similar cases involving migrant break-ins along the border, said Patagonia Assistant Police Chief Thomas Schenek, who responded to the scene. "The only real items you see taken or gone through in cases like this are food and clothing," he said. Kolbe could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The case will remain open until Kolbe can make a complete inventory of the missing items, Estrada said.