Police Investigating Theft of Koa Wood

Police are seeking the public’s help in their investigation of the theft of koa wood last week in Puna.

A 60-year-old resident of Mountain View told police that on Wednesday, Jan. 28, he confronted four men using two trucks to steal cut pieces of the wood from his property.

Initially thinking that a relative of his was on the property, he approached the vehicles only to find that the suspects had loaded the trucks with wood.

After confronting two of the men, the Mountain View man was able to retrieve several pieces of the wood.

Then, while he was calling police, the suspects drove off with the trucks, and the man heard gunshots fired from the direction in which they left.

He later found that a chain gate to his property had been cut.

One of the vehicles allegedly used in the theft was painted yellow and the other was red and white. Both were full-sized trucks.

One suspect, a passenger in the red-and-white truck, was described as a local male in his 30s, about 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds. He had a muscular build, short black hair and possible tattoos on his neck. He was wearing a light-colored T-shirt.

The driver of that truck was a local male also in his 30s, although shorter and lighter in complexion. He was shirtless.

One of the other men was about the same height as the first two suspects, while the fourth was taller.

Police have classified the case as second-degree theft, first-degree reckless endangering, fourth-degree criminal property damage and first-degree criminal trespass.

Koa is a dense, red wood unique to Hawaii which is prized for furniture and carving.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Det. Clarence Davies at 961-2384 or [email protected].