LIHU‘E — An Ohio couple’s trip to Kaua‘i for the birth of their granddaughter took an unfortunate turn Sunday when their rental car and all of their belongings — including a camera with the first photos of their newborn granddaughter
LIHU‘E — An Ohio couple’s trip to Kaua‘i for the birth of their granddaughter took an unfortunate turn Sunday when their rental car and all of their belongings — including a camera with the first photos of their newborn granddaughter — were stolen at Papa‘a Beach, north of Anahola.
“I’m afraid to go anywhere,” Tina Lukco said over the phone Tuesday, one day before her scheduled flight home to North Royalton, Ohio. “As nice as everyone (else) has been, I find myself scared to death.”
At approximately 5:30 p.m., Tina and her husband Jim left their bags and rental car key on the beach to take a quick walk. When they returned they found their bags and car had been stolen.
“Patrol officers from the Kapa‘a substation responded to the call and representatives from VASK were also called in to assist,” county Public Information Officer Sarah Blane wrote in an email Tuesday. “Police report that there are no suspects in the incident at this time.”
Among the items stolen from the Lukcos’ car were credit cards, drivers licenses, $600 cash, Jim’s wedding ring, clothes, two T-mobile cellular phones, beach chairs, snorkels, a Canon Powershot A2300 digital camera — with pictures of their daughter during labor last week — and other sentimental items.
Most important to Tina and her family is that the camera and pictures are returned. The family is offering a $150 reward, no questions asked.
“I’m more worried about possibly getting those pictures back … (my daughter) was giving birth,” she said, fighting back tears. “My grandbaby’s first pictures are on that card.”
Tina described the experience as “beyond belief,” and said she has been looking over her shoulder since the incident and having terrible nightmares.
“I know everyone says it’s very unusual (for Kaua‘i), but it happened to me,” she said.
Despite her frustration, Tina doesn’t hold the incident against Kaua‘i. She spoke highly of the community — especially the Kaua‘i Police Department and VASK, an organization that primarily responds to visitors that are victims of crimes — which she said offered help and support.
“They were unbelievable,” she said.
Following the incident, Tina said a KPD officer drove her and her husband back to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which gave the couple a new rental. In addition, VASK provided the couple with $100 cash and gift cards to WalMart and Foodland. Kaua‘i Pasta in Lihu‘e invited the couple in for a free dinner.
“I was crying my eyes out … they couldn’t have been nicer,” Tina said.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact KPD at 241-1711. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 241-1887. Tina and Jim are encouraging whoever stole the camera to contact them at (440) 582-1821.
“Police take this opportunity to remind both residents and visitors that personal belongings — particularly keys, identification and credit cards — should never be left unattended,” Blane wrote. “In addition to losing your material items, you can also become a victim of identity theft.”
