Wave of burglaries sweeps into Kaneohe

KANEOHE, OAHU- According to a crime mapping application linked to the Honolulu Police Department’s web site, at least 34 homes have been burglarized in Kaneohe in the past month along. If you go back two months, the number surges past sixty. Go back three months and the number of homes broken into reaches eighty-four.

Despite a number of arrests, police say the trend has continued.

“The Honolulu Police Department is aware of a recent increase in residential burglaries in the Kaneohe area,” Caroline Sluyter, a spokeswoman for HPD, said Thursday in a written statement. “Despite multiple arrests in the last few months, the burglaries have continued and investigators are following up on all viable leads.”

The recent spike in burglaries was a hot topic last Wednesday during a meeting of the Olomana Community Association, a hui of about 260 homes.

“Ironically, most of these burglaries happen during the middle of the day,” said Gary Wiseman, the association’s third vice-president.

Wiseman says Olomana homeowners have even picked out a few trends about the type of homes being targeted. Most have carports instead of garages, or, are located where several streets connect, making for an easier getaway.

The association hopes to step up its security patrols in response to the rash of break-ins.

“We’re trying to get the people that do walking during the daytime to be part of our program and wear a t-shirt while they’re walking,” said Wiseman.

Mary Paulson of Security One Incorporated, a Honolulu alarm company, attended the association’s meeting last week. She said police told residents the burglars are likely ‘casing’ certain streets or neighborhoods before they strike.

“The police think that they’re watching the neighborhoods very carefully,” said Paulson. “That they have cars and trucks parked on the street watching to see the traffic flow.”

In addition to taking basic security measures around your home, like installing a security alarm, trimming hedges and securing windows, Paulson says residents should be aware of what they post on social media.

“Do not post your vacation plans on Facebook, even if you have an alarm system. People can find you even if you’re not listed, they can find you easily these days.”

According to statistics by the U.S. Department of Justice, Oahu had a higher per capita rate for burglary in 2008 than Boston, Los Angeles and New York. Oahu’s rate was 703 burglaries per 100,000 residents, compared to 578 for Boston, 512 for Los Angeles, and 238 for New York.