Break-in targeted Wimmer office? No, cops say

Reports of a break-in targeting the Carl Wimmer for Congress campaign office in Bluffdale turned out to be something far less than a Utah version of Watergate.

The burglary at the two-story masonry structure at 14587 S. 790 West, believed to have occurred sometime over the New Year's weekend, appeared to be a smash-and-grab incident targeting all occupants of the building, said Cpl. Shane Taylor of the Saratoga Springs Police Department.

Saratoga Springs handles police calls for neighboring Bluffdale.

Taylor said the burglars kicked in the doors of eight businesses, including that of a 10-foot by 10-foot food handling office "occasionally rented" to Wimmer.

"It wasn't affiliated with him by name. This is a building that houses several businesses," Taylor said Wednesday.

Wimmer has announced he will step down as a Republican state representative to run for the new 4th Congressional District seat.

Nothing was taken from Wimmer's space, Taylor said, though it contained computers and other electronics. A nearby sandwich shop reported that $13 in cash and a large quantity of candy was taken, however.

Despite an earlier published account indicating the break-in may have been politically motivated, Wimmer said Wednesday that it does now appear that his office space was not singled out but was part of several hit by the burglars.

Wimmer added that he "never thought it was" a case of his office being singled out.

remims@sltrib.com