Burglars target Lihu’e businesses

Police are investigating a string of burglaries in the Lihu’e area.

At least four area businesses on or near Kuhio Highway have been hit in the past two weeks including: A Touch of Elegance, The Lihu’e Cafe, Memorial Gardens Mortuary and Maria’s.

But newly appointed Kaua’i Police Department Chief Investigator Gordon Isoda demurred when asked if there had been a rash of burglaries lately.

“I would not call it a rash. But yes, we’ve had some burglaries. Burglaries do occur (on Kaua’i) on a daily basis,” Isoda said.

Isoda, a veteran KPD officer who also served for the Bellevue Washington Police department before returning to Kaua’i in the early 1980’s, said that sometimes one arrest solves a string of burglaries.

“Sometimes one person is responsible. Sometimes not,” he explained.

One of the merchants hit, who requested anonymity, said he suspected professionals and not teenagers.

“They entered from the rear of my business (where they could not be observed). And they did no extra damage getting in (none of the vandalism which police say often accompanies teenage burglaries),” the business owner said.

He added that it might be time for him to apply for a concealed weapons permit.

“I have to protect myself,” he said.

Isoda said there are things merchants and home owners can do to minimize their risks which are safer than arming themselves.

“The best thing they can do is call and join our Neighborhood Watch program. The guys can come out and do a security check. And they should call us immediately if they see anybody looking or acting suspicious,” Isoda added.

According to Kaua’i Police statistics released last summer by Isoda’s predecessor, Melvin Morris, Kaua’i has been averaging between 35 and 55 burglaries per month.

During the first six months of 2001 there were 204 burglaries, down from 274 burglaries between January 1 and June 30, 2000.