Hawaiʻi Police Department
Puna District
Acting Captain Reed Mahuna
Phone: 965-2716
Media Release
Big Island police are advising the public to take extra precautions to prevent burglaries during the holiday season and to report suspicious activities—especially suspicious persons in your neighborhood during the day or at night. The following tips can help reduce the chances of burglary in your neighborhood:
- Lock your doors and windows when you leave your home, including those in the rear of the house that aren’t visible from the street.
- Be cautious of posting your location on social networking sites as they can be used by criminals to determine if you are home.
- Become familiar with your neighbors and their cars.
- If you see unfamiliar vehicles driving around your neighborhood, note the description of the vehicle, the license plate number and descriptions of any occupants and report them to police.
- Beware of strangers knocking on doors. They may be burglars checking to see if a house is unoccupied. Report suspicious persons coming to your home to police immediately.
- Don’t leave a house key hidden outside your home.
- Keep your home well lit.
- Keep trees and bushes trimmed so they don’t provide cover for burglars.
- If you come home and see evidence that someone has been in your home or may still be there, leave the area and call police immediately.
- Ask your neighbors to report any suspicious persons and vehicles seen at or near your home.
If you suspect a burglary is in progress or if you encounter any suspicious person on your property, call 911. To report suspicious persons in your neighborhood, call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.