The Taxpayers Audit and Assessment Department in Mandeville which was broken into on the weekend. - George Henry

The Region 3 offices of the Taxpayers Audit and Assessment Department (formerly the GCT department) at Caledonia Mall Plaza in Mandeville, Manchester, was broken into on the weekend.

The thieves broke into the data-processing unit.

Assistant commissioner for Region 3 of the Taxpayer Audit and Assessment Department, Richard Palmer, confirmed the break-in.

Palmer, who explained that the Mandeville offices serve the parishes of Manchester, Clarendon, St Elizabeth and St Catherine, reported that thieves entered the unit through a bathroom window at the rear of the building.

Equipment taken

Palmer said checks revealed that three computers, three surge protectors and a kitchen appliance were taken. He said files were removed from filing cabinets and thrown on desks. It is not clear if documents were taken.

Palmer theorised that the thieves may have been in the building before, and knew department's layout.

Employees returned to work Monday afternoon after forensic experts swabbed the bathroom, filing cabinets and other pieces of furniture for fingerprints.

It is understood that there was a break-in at the department last year.