Two homes on Papalina Road, two residences on Kike‘e Road in Kalaheo and a Po‘ipu condominium were burglarized Monday, a county news release states. Cash and jewelry were taken from the Kalaheo homes. A laptop computer, flat screen television and
Two homes on Papalina Road, two residences on Kike‘e Road in Kalaheo and a Po‘ipu condominium were burglarized Monday, a county news release states.
Cash and jewelry were taken from the Kalaheo homes. A laptop computer, flat screen television and a backpack were taken from the Po‘ipu condo.
“We have just been informed of a recent break-in, Monday between 12:30 and 5 p.m. at a condominium,” states an advisory letter sent to Po‘ipu Beach Resort Association members from Jody Kono Kjeldsen, executive director of PBRA. “Suspects entered through a locked sliding/screen door … No one was in the unit at the time. Police have been notified with no suspect(s) identified.”
Similarly, in one of the Papalina Road burglaries the owner was not home when the items were reportedly stolen. Sometime between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., the perpetrators entered through the back of the home by breaking through louvres in the home’s bedroom, said a caller familiar with the incident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The burglars rifled through drawers in the bedroom and after discovering a home safe in the closet, made off with it. The safe reportedly contained money, jewelry and important papers.
“An investigation of these incidents is underway,” said Kaua‘i Police Lt. Dan Abadilla in the release. “We urge the public to take precautions, keep an eye out for each other and call the police if you notice any suspicious activity.”
The Kalaheo break-ins on Monday are just part of a series of burglaries that have been occurring in the Waha Road area spanning from Gallo Place makai to the cul-de-sacs near Waha Park over the past month.
The anonymous caller suspects that burglars know when residents are not going to be home as all of the break-ins occurred when the house occupants were at church, work or on errands.
In an earlier break-in, the incident took place while a Department of Water crew was repairing a damaged fire hydrant just a few houses from where the break-in took place during daylight hours.
A Sunday incident happened while a neighbor was using a chain saw to trim trees, the noise of the chain saw effectively muffling the sounds of the break-in, said another anonymous caller.
A third concerned caller expressed an interest in forming a Neighborhood Watch program in the area.
Kaua‘i Police Lt. Dan Miyamoto said there have been several phone calls from residents in the area and information on establishing a Neighborhood Watch has been distributed.
He said the next step is to have all the residents in the area get information during a presentation by a Kaua‘i Police Department officer.
A good Neighborhood Watch program is one of the suggestions offered under the Three D’s of protection shared Monday by the Patrol Services Bureau to reduce the chances of becoming a property crime victim.
The Neighborhood Watch program falls under “Detection” which also includes having an alarm system covering the perimeter and interior of the home, and a barking dog.
“Deterrence,” includes good lighting, an alert Neighborhood Watch program, and sturdy doors, windows and locks.
“Delay” suggests a good home security system will slow a burglar down. They will not waste time or expose their intentions for long if they cannot find an easy target, the release states. A few minutes delay, an alert neighbor and they will be caught.
Kjeldsen said there will be an islandwide crime awareness presentation in July through the efforts of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce and the Office of Economic Development.
Anyone with information about the recent burglaries is urged to call Police Dispatch at 241-1711 or Crime Stoppers at 241-1887.
For more tips on how to stay protected, visit www.kauai.gov.
