Kailua’s Break-ins Bring Security Tips

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Over the past six months, there have been numerous break-ins within the Kalaheo Hillside area along Mokapu Road, which many elderly residents call home.

Resident Kay White explained that the most commonly stolen items were electronics, medicines (pills) and jewelry. She also said most of the break-ins occurred during the day when people were at work.

While there is a police station in Kailua, White said she’s unsure if they are doing anything. “Maybe there’s not enough police in the area to do patrols,” she said, adding that the burglaries have brought on a sense of fear in the community. “My kids are telling me to get pepper spray or mace or a gun, and I said, ‘Forget the gun’ and I don’t even know where you’d find pepper spray or mace, but I don’t like guns at all.”

Police Sgt. Duane Samson said Oct. 26, however, that they’ve made one arrest in the Kalaheo cases. And the Windward Neighborhood Security Watch Coordinators Group discussed the rash of burglaries in the area at an Oct. 8 meeting with its mission in mind: to work with the community in District 4 to make it safe to live, work and play from Makapuu lighthouse all the way to Kahuku.

“That’s how big District IV is for HPD,” said Carlene MacPherson, president of the watch group, which has developed a partnership with the District IV police to share information, identify problem areas and develop trust and cooperation. She also heard there was a “person of interest” in the Aikahi and Kalaheo Hillside breakins.

“This comes from the people being the eyes and ears for HPD,” she noted.

“Lock your doors even if you’re home during the day, and make sure you close your windows so there’s no possible entrance to the house,” she warned, “and don’t keep any valuables in the car even if it’s in your own driveway.”

The group works to establish more watch groups and community policing programs, and enlists the help of the Legislature, City Council and other government agencies, businesses and community groups to reduce and prevent crimes in the Windward area. “By keeping in contact,”

MacPherson explained, “we help each other out to know what’s going on, then we send email blasts out about what to be looking for.”

A new tool to see recent criminal activity is at honolulupd.org. Click on “crime mapping,” and input an address. Residents can call 911 or Samson at 723-8874, and they also can email McPherson at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Any tips about suspicious activity or people are appreciated.