ANAHOLA – An all-terrain vehicle reported stolen by the Ocean Safety Bureau on Sunday that was recovered in Anahola Monday marks the fourth time in just over two weeks that suspects have broken into lifeguard storage areas. The red Honda
ANAHOLA – An all-terrain vehicle reported stolen by the Ocean Safety Bureau on Sunday that was recovered in Anahola Monday marks the fourth time in just over two weeks that suspects have broken into lifeguard storage areas.
The red Honda ATV was stolen from a storage room near the Kealia tower between 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. It was recovered in Anahola near the Flat Track dirt bike trail on Monday. Aside from some cosmetic damage, the ATV was in good condition, county officials said in a press release. No arrests have yet been made, and police are investigating.
The rash of break-ins started at the Lydgate tower on December 27. No items were stolen, but the tower was vandalized and it was found full of litter.
The Anahola Beach lifeguard tower was the target of thieves sometime after the lifeguards ended their shift on Wednesday, Jan. 2, and before they arrived on Thursday, Jan. 3. A Motorola XTS 5000R portable radio and a pair of binoculars were stolen, with the total estimated value of the stolen equipment totaling over $5,000.
On Jan. 8, swim fins and other miscellaneous items were stolen from the Kealia tower.
County officials could not say whether the incidents are related, but the lifeguards are extremely frustrated.
“The stolen equipment — even swim fins, which have little monetary value — are important tools for our lifeguards to help save lives, and incidents like these distract us from that mission,” said Kaua’i Fire Chief Robert Westerman in the release. “We appreciate the police department’s help in investigating these thefts and urge the public to provide KPD with any information that might help them in locating the suspects.”
Anyone with information on any of the tower break-ins is urged to call Police Dispatch at 241-1711 or CrimeStoppers, 241-1887.
