Thieves broke into the Haitian Embassy on Shirley Street over the weekend and stole two safes containing approximately $20,000, embassy officials said yesterday.
Police said they believe the burglars gained access to the complex after breaking the locks off the door at the rear of the embassy.
An employee reportedly noticed the door was open when he arrived around 8 a.m. yesterday.
Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas Antonio Rodrigue said nearly all of the offices were ransacked.
The Nassau Guardian was shown several damaged doors and offices where desk drawers were overturned and documents littered the floor.
Rodrigue said he believes the culprits broke into the embassy in search of money, as no documents were taken.
One safe was removed from beneath the ambassador's desk.
Rodrigue said it contained money from passport applications over the past week and other services.
"You see your property has been invaded, you have a break-in and you don't feel safe anymore," he said.
When asked whether he thought the break-in may be connected to the Department of Immigration's interdiction exercise over the weekend, Rodrigue said, "Maybe the people took the opportunity because they [thought] we had lots of money coming here since the government wants all foreigners to have national passports, and maybe they [thought] this was a good moment to come.
"But I don't relate the event to the exercise."
A new immigration policy, which took effect on Saturday, requires all non-Bahamians to have passports of their nationalities and evidence that they have permission to live and work in the country.
The policy also states that the Department of Immigration will not accept first-time applications for residence or work permits from those who have no legal status in The Bahamas.
There has been strong reaction to Saturday's round-ups of more 77 illegal immigrants, including children.
Some people objected while others supported the government's actions.
Rodrigue admitted that the embassy is not guarded on weekends and has no alarm system or surveillance cameras.
However, the ambassador said officials will put those security measures in place.
Rodrigue said two minor incidents, including the theft of a cell phone, were reported at the embassy within the last month.
Several people were turned away from the building as embassy officials and police canvassed the two-story complex.
The embassy has just over a dozen employees.
In September, burglars entered through the roof of the Department of Immigration on Hawkins Hill and stole several televisions and other electronic items, according to police.
That building was also broken into in 2010.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian