Lawa‘i burglary rattles resident

LIHU‘E — A long-time friend of businessman Greg Schredder, recovering from cancer surgery and enjoying a needed vacation, was victimized by a brazen burglar his first night in paradise.

A thief came into Schredder’s Kukui‘ula home, where the man was staying, and took all the man’s money, wallet and most of his other possessions while the men and two dogs slept, Schredder said.

“I heard something and he heard something,” said Schredder. “I was there, they came in at night. I’m very upset about this.”

The thief or thieves were so quiet they didn’t even wake up the dogs or either of the men, Schredder sleeping on the second floor and his visitor on the first floor.

The March 8 event marked the second time in a year Schredder’s home had been entered by thieves, the first time around eight months ago.

Schredder said police responding to the earlier robbery told him there had been a rash of burglaries on the South Shore.

“Wouldn’t it be fair if they let people know?” Schredder said. “That’s what infuriates me. You’d think they’d alert the community if thefts are happening.”

In the earlier case, police made an arrest, he said.

“I guess I’m going to have to install some security,” said Schredder, who has lived on the South Shore for 28 years.

Earlier, when the Po‘ipu Beach Resort Association and the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa hosted a crime-prevention seminar, one of Schredder’s neighbors, Judy Neale, said a thief who obviously had been watching her and her home entered the home and stole her purse while she was walking her dog early one morning.

A caller to The Garden Island suggested there has been a rash of burglaries recently and, possibly, beatings, on the South Shore. But Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry said he is not aware of any such trends.

• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.