Socorro County Manager Michael Hawkes

The Socorro County Manager’s office was the scene of a break-in last week, but the motivation behind the incident is unknown.

“Nothing is missing, and nothing was taken,” county manager Michael Hawkes said. “I don’t know if there was a reason behind this or it was just kids up to mischief.”

He said the person or persons unknown apparently gained entry into the building through a window late Monday or early Tuesday of last week, and made their way through different rooms, including three offices on the finance side.

“I don’t have a clue what they were looking for,” he said. “Maybe money? They went through different drawers, but we don’t keep money there.”

Hawkes said his office was untouched.

“They didn’t get into my office, because I always have it locked,” he said. “And then they left through the back door.”

Two vehicles were broken into at the District Attorney’s office, and investigators are treating them as connected to the same incident.

“They did make an attempt to break into the DA’s office across the street,” he said. “I don’t know why they would try the DA’s office and then walk over to ours. Or the other way around. The motivation for this, I don’t get.

“Investigation into the incident is being conducted by detectives from the sheriff’s department,” he said. “They left a bunch of evidence that we’re hoping will give the sheriff’s office enough leads to identify the people.”

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain