West Hawaii Today, Friday, October 10, 2003 Teaming up against theft
Assistant Police Chief Thomas Hickcox addresses a meeting Thursday evening of the Kona Heavens Neighborhood Watch. -MICHAEL DARDEN-WHT
By KAREN IWAMOTO/ West Hawaii Today
Property crime was the main topic of a Neighborhood Watch meeting Thursday evening in the Kona Heavens subdivision.
Assistant Chief Thomas Hickcox, who oversees police operations in West Hawaii, said the number of thefts and burglaries in Kona has gone down since last year. He attributed the decrease to an increased effort by community police officers to crack down on property crimes.
Still, many of the about 30 residents present at the meeting said they had been victims of recent burglaries and thefts - and not all realized their neighbors had been victims as well.
Lilian Beaufrere, coordinator of the Kona Heavens Neighborhood Watch, said she didn't find out until August that burglaries in the neighborhood had been going on since May. She urged strengthened communication between residents and police.
Communi
ty Police Officer William Vickery said 12 burglaries have been reported in Kona Heavens during the last two years.
Six burglaries in Kona Heavens have been recorded since the start of the year, Vickery said. Four took place between Aug. 21 and Sept. 9.
"How do we know to be on alert for suspicious vehicles and individuals when no one tells us there is a problem?" Kona Heavens resident Bud Huff asked.
Hickcox assured Huff the Police Department is not deliberately withholding information about burglaries.
"Far from it," he said. "We try to get people to network and coordinate. I can't stress the importance of having knowledge."
Police Detective Nancy Haitsuka, who investigated some of the Kona Heavens burglaries, said nosy neighbors are the best defense. Neighbors who know each other's business, she said, are more likely to notice suspicious behavior and report it to police.
But many of the homes in the Kona Heavens subdivision are set back from the road, at the end of long driveways and behind tall shrubbery.
"I can't see any doorways and garages from my house," Kona Heavens resident Henry Smith said. "About all I can see is some rooflines. If I wanted to see more I would have to be out on the street."
Others present had questions about how to better secure their homes from invasions. Vickery said community police officers will survey homes for free and suggest security improvements to homeowners.
Meanwhile, residents who had been burglarized said their belongings have yet to be recovered. Haitsuka said the stolen items were likely turned over to drug dealers who distributed them elsewhere.
"The problem is your stuff disperses so quickly," she said. "The stuff goes to five different bad guys, not just one."
Residents also discussed measures to prevent speeding on Hina Lani Street.
Police said they would continue to issue speeding tickets, but also recommended residents talk to their County Council representative about their concerns.
kiwamoto@westhawaiitoday.com
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For moreinformation, call Beaufrere at 325-0039.
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