Big Island Police Offer Tips to Prevent Vehicle Break-Ins

In light of a recent slew of vehicle break-ins in the South Hilo District, Hawaiʻi Island police are offering tips to residents to prevent break-ins and thefts.

During December 2021 through mid-January, there have been a total of 32 vehicle break-ins at numerous areas in the district. In the overwhelming majority of these break-ins, unknown suspect(s) gained entry to the vehicles because they were left unlocked. A handful of the vehicle thefts occurred when keys were left in the vehicle.

Police offer these tips:

• Lock the doors and close the windows. Don’t make it easy for a thief to break in or reach in and snatch anything of value.
• Park in well-lit areas. If you’re parking your car somewhere after sunset, try to find a spot underneath a streetlight that’s lit well and sees a good amount of traffic.
• Hide any valuables. Better yet, avoid keeping valuables in your car at all.
• Don’t leave your car running. It can be tempting to leave your car running when you’re just popping in and out of the store, but this also makes it pretty easy for a thief to hop in and drive away.
• Invest in an anti-theft system. Whether it’s a steering wheel lock, a window alarm or an ignition cut-off system, anything that makes a thief work harder could also make your car safer. If it will slow them down or potentially get them caught, they’ll probably pass.

Police ask anyone who might have information about any vehicle break-ins or thefts, as well as the whereabouts of any stolen vehicles, to call the police department’s nonemergency line at 808-935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00.