Anti-Burglary Advice: Lock Your Doors 02-05-02

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA PATROL DIVISION
CAPTAIN JOHN E. DAWRS
PHONE: 326-4211
FEBRUARY 5, 2001

MEDIA RELEASE

Kona police are reminding residents to help prevent burglaries by locking their homes and vehicles when they leave home or park their cars.

An investigation into a rash of thefts from parked cars and homes in Keopoku, South Kona, prompted the commander of the Kona Patrol Division, Captain John Dawrs, to issue the plea.

“We all need to start protecting our property,” Dawrs said. “For whatever reason things are not the way they used to be in Kona. If you leave your keys in the car or house unlocked, you are helping the criminals.”

Dawrs noted that in late January, two Kona Patrol officers asked Community Police Officer Stanley Haanio for help in solving property crimes occurring in Keopuka. There had recently been a series of 13 thefts from parked cars and seven home burglaries over several months.

“Officer Haanio began his investigation by recontacting the victims, plotting out the crimes and looking for the common denominators,” Dawrs said. “Within days, he had solved the seven home burglaries and had a 16-year-old juvenile in custody, and he is still working on the vehicle entries.

“In studying these burglaries and vehicle entries, Officer Haanio determined that one of the common factors was unlocked doors. All of the vehicles were unlocked and all but one of the houses was unlocked.”

Dawrs noted that during 2001, the North and South Kona Districts recorded a 29 percent increase in the number of auto thefts and a 21 percent increase in burglaries and thefts.

He urged residents to “lock your doors and don’t leave the keys or valuables in the car.”

Dawrs concluded: “An important part of keeping yourself from becoming a victim is securing your property. While locking up will not stop all criminals, it will deter some.”

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