KAPA‘A — A thief or thieves stole more than $20,000 in jewelry and merchandise after breaking into three Coconut Marketplace businesses. Police say someone also attempted to enter a restaurant in the Kinipopo Shopping Village but only succeeded in damaging
KAPA‘A — A thief or thieves stole more than $20,000 in jewelry and merchandise after breaking into three Coconut Marketplace businesses.
Police say someone also attempted to enter a restaurant in the Kinipopo Shopping Village but only succeeded in damaging some windows.
The incidents are believed to have occurred sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning, a county press release said.
Shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday, someone triggered the alarm to Golden Nugget Jewelry when the unknown suspects appear to have pried open a padlock and entered through the doorway. Golden Nugget Jewelry reported the loss of more than $10,000 in jewelry.
Island Fever, located near the jewelry store, also reported about $10,000 in stolen merchandise. Police say a padlock also was pried in order to gain access into the store.
The third incident at Coconut Marketplace occurred at Crazy Shirts. According to police, the burglar or burglars entered the store without force, though no items were reported missing.
Just down the highway from the Coconut Marketplace, the owners of Tutu’s Soup Hale notified police of an attempted break-in that occurred sometime between 5:30 p.m. Monday and 7:20 a.m. Tuesday. The suspects reportedly tried to gain access through the windows, but could not get through the metal bars that secured the potential entryway. No items were reported missing. Damages to the windows are estimated at about $100.
County spokeswoman Sarah Blane said there is a possibility that the Coconut Marketplace cases are connected, as the three happened within the same time frame.
At press time, there was no evidence to prove that the same suspect or suspects attempted to burglarize Tutu’s Soup Hale or Vicky’s Fabric Shop in March in Kapa‘a, Blane said.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to call Detective James Miller at 241-1905, Police Dispatch, 241-1711 or Crime Stoppers, 241-1887.
The Kaua‘i Police Department offers business and home owners a checklist of items to assess how secure a home or business is from theft. To download the free checklist, go to www.kauai.gov/police and click on the ‘Community Relations’ tab.