Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area II
Lieutenant Gerald Wike
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 266
Report No. C15007804
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating the theft last month of numerous high-priced items owned by the County of Hawaiʻi from the West Hawaiʻi Veterans Cemetery.
Sometime between 2 p.m. March 12 and 8:30 a.m. March 13, numerous items, including heavy equipment, were removed from the Veterans Cemetery located on Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway between the 88- and 89-mile markers across from the entrance to Kua Bay. The value of the items was estimated at $24,785.
Among the items stolen was a Trail King dual-axel trailer valued at $17,995. In response to a recent anonymous tip from the public, police recovered the trailer in Waimea on April 16. It had been modified and damaged.
Other stolen items were a small electric water pump with a metal pressurized tank valued at $600, a red Honda four-stroke weed trimmer valued at $700, a white-and-reddish-orange Stihl backpack blower valued at $500, a Solo backpack sprayer with a clear tank valued at $100, two gas-powered lawn edgers valued at $300 each, two pop-up tents valued at $200 each, a deep-cycle battery valued at $400, and other assorted tools and equipment.
The case is being investigated as a first-degree theft.
Police ask anyone who knows anything about this theft or the location of any of the items to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Sean Smith at 326-4646, extension 262, or sean.smith@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.