Hāmākua Coast Crime Report: November 2017

Hawai‘i Police Department’s Hāmākua Coast Community Police responded to six thefts, three assaults, two vehicle thefts, four criminal property damage incidents and three drug-related incidents in the Hāmākua Coast District in November 2017.

There were no vehicle break-ins, or burglaries or robberies reported in this time frame.

Also see “HPD TIPS FOR SAFE HOLIDAY SHOPPING” below.

The complete list of locations and incident details are as follows:

6 THEFTS

1. At a pasture on Old Government Road in Haina Camp, unknown suspects removed 20 “T” posts and an electric fence energizer without permission.
2. At a business on Kapulena Airstrip Road in Honoka‘a, M-80 sold $20 thousand dollars worth of cattle without permission.
3. At a residence on Pikake Street in Honoka‘a, a male suspect was attempting to steal avocado from a tree without permission.
4. At a residence on Kula Kahiko Road in Honoka‘a, a 59-year-old woman reported that her 44-year-old male tenant took her cell phone and charger without permission and threw them into a ravine. This report is connected to an assault case (See ASSAULT No. 2).
5. At a business on Rickard Place in Honoka‘a, a weed whacker and personal care items were removed from a storage space without permission.
6. At a business on Kukui Street in Honoka‘a, an unknown suspect removed a wallet containing a Hawai‘i driver’s license, state ID, Social Security card and debit card were removed from the glove compartment without permission. This is connected to the stolen vehicle report from Lehua Street.

3 ASSAULTS

1. At a residence on Kula Kahiko Road in Honoka‘a, a 48-year-old man reported feeling pain after being struck on the forearm with a toilet plunger by his 59-year-old landlady.
2. At a residence on Kula Kahiko Road in Honoka‘a, a 59-year-old woman reported sustaining bruising and pain after her tenant, a 44-year-old male, grabbed her left arm. A connect-up theft was also initiated after the tenant threw her cell phone and charger into a ravine (See THEFT No. 4).
3. At a residence on Mamane Street in Honoka‘a, an 18-year-old woman sustained pain and swelling to her left eye after she was punched by a 28-year-old woman.

2 VEHICLE THEFTS

1. At a residence on Ka‘apahu Road in Honoka‘a, the victim allowed an acquaintance borrow his silver 2008 Jeep Wrangler for a day. The acquaintance has yet to return the vehicle.
2. At a parking lot on Lehua Street in Honoka‘a, a blue 1998 Honda Civic was removed without permission. This after the operator left the door unlocked and keys in the ignition and went to a near by restroom. After returning, the vehicle was missing.

4 CRIMINAL PROPERTY DAMAGE INCIDENTS

1. At a residence on Nanu Street in Papa‘aloa, an unknown suspect slashed the front and rear passenger tires fronting the residence. Estimated value of the damage is $270.
2. On Hawai‘i Belt Road near the 18.2 mile marker in Ninole, an unknown suspect cut the chain and lock to to the owner’s property. Estimated value of the damage is $75.
3. At a residence on Namilimili Road in Honoka‘a, the victim’s live-in-boyfriend damaged the left and right rear panels to her black 1999 Honda Civic sedan. Estimated damage is $800.
4. At a residence on Mamane Street in Honoka‘a, a 21-year-old woman threw a cigarette lighter at the front windshield of a blue 2010 Mazda 3 sedan, causing the window to shatter. Estimated value of the damage is $450.

3 DRUGS

1. At a business on Kihalani Homestead Road in Laupahoehoe, a 16year-old male was seen throwing a container into the bushes of a restricted area. The container and its contents, marijuana and a glass smoking pipe, were located. Officers were called to recover the items. Promotion of a Detrimental Drug and Drug Paraphernalia cases were initiated.
2. At a business on Pakalana Street in Honoka‘a, a 15-year-old male was in possession of a glass smoking pipe with residue that tested positive for marijuana. Promotion of a Detrimental Drug and Drug Paraphernalia cases were initiated.
3. At a business on Pakalana Street in Honoka‘a, a 17-year-old female admitted to being in possession of marijuana after store staff smelled the odor of marijuana coming the business’ bathroom. Promotion of a Detrimental Drug case was initiated.

CONGRATUATIONS TO:

Congratulations are in order for Officer Robert Border for 25 years of service, Officer Kamana Silva for 26 years of service, Sgt. Tyson Matsumura for 23 years of service and Lt. Jefferson Grantz for 27 years of service.

All four officers are participating in the reserve officer program and will remain a part of the community going forward.

HPD TIPS FOR SAFE HOLIDAY SHOPPING

• Park in visible and well lit areas.
• Always lock your car, roll up windows and close sunroofs before leaving your vehicle.
• Keep your valuables hidden, for example cell phones, tablets, watches and shopping bags.
• Remove or hide any papers lying on a seat or on a dashboard that could contain personal information, such as pay stubs, bank statements and mail that could lead to a stolen identity.
• If you see suspicious persons and or activity around parked vehicles, don’t hesitate to report by calling the HPD: non-emergency, (808) 935-3311; 9-1-1 for emergencies.

BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS

• Lock your doors and windows when you leave home.
  When you are on vacation try not to post pictures on social media until you return home.
  Become familiar with your neighbors and their vehicles.
  Be aware of strangers walking or driving around in your neighborhood. Burglars may be checking to see if your house is unoccupied.
  Keep trees and bushes trimmed to they don’t provide cover for burglars.
  Install motion sensor lights.
  Install an alarm system and or surveillance cameras.
• Be vigilant, don’t give criminals an opportunity to commit crimes.

If you see suspicious persons and or activity, don’t hesitate to report it to the police.

Hāmākua Station
45-3400 Mamane St.
Honoka’a, HI
(808) 775-7533

Laupahoehoe Station
36-2283 Old Māmalahoa Highway
Laupahoehoe, HI
(808) 962-2120

Crime Stoppers
(808) 961-8300

Police Non-Emergency
(808) 935-3311

CALL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES

The Importance of Neighborhood Watches; Block Captains Wanted

A neighborhood watch is an organized group of civilians devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within the neighborhood. The goal of the neighborhood watch is to educate the residents of a community on security and safety to achieve safe and secure neighborhoods. When suspicious activity is suspected, members are encouraged to call and report this activity.

Why is there a need for this partnership? With a limited amount of officers working per shift and with the task of having to cover from Umauma to Lake Land, having neighborhood watches provides more eyes and ears in the community to report and prevent suspicious activity.

How do you start a neighborhood watch? There are Five Steps to start a Neighborhood Watch:

1. Recruit/organize as many neighbors as possible.
2. Contact your area Community Police Officer to schedule a meeting.
3. Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan.
4. Hold regular meetings and train members on relevant skills.
5. Implement a phone tree and take action.

Those interested in forming a neighborhood watch in your area should contact the community police officer for your area.

Hāmākua Coast Community Police are looking for those who are interested in being a block captain in the Laupahoehoe and Ahualoa Neighborhood Watch areas. Contact your area community police officer or Neighborhood Watch Coordinators.

Officer John KARI for the Honoka‘a Area, Honoka‘a Station (808) 775-7533

Officer Joseph ROCHA for the North Hilo Area, North Hilo Station (808) 962-2120

A nuclear attack preparedness guide can be found online at the HI-EMA website.