Hilo leads island in number of burglaries

Hilo leads the island in the most burglaries this year and last, while Kona trails behind with a total of 26 from January to April.

According to information from the Hawaii Police Department, Hilo experienced 108 burglaries so far this year, Puna had 75, South Kona had 18, Ka‘u had 12, North Hilo had five, Hamakua had four, and North Kohala had three.

Last year, Hilo also led the island with the most burglaries, with a total of 496, followed by Puna with 419. Kona saw a total of 176 burglaries in 2014, South Kona had 45, Ka‘u experienced 61 burglaries and North Kohala had 18. North Hilo had 15 burglaries in 2014 and Hamakua had 25.

Hawaii Police Maj. Randy Apele said there are many factors as to why there are more crimes in East Hawaii as opposed to the west side of the island, including population and vast rural areas such as Puna.

“Generally, there is 25 percent more crime on the east side than in Kona,” he said.

Apele said the definition of burglary is to enter or remain unlawfully in a building with the intent to commit a crime against a person or property.

There are two types of burglaries. A burglary in the first degree is when an individual enters a resident’s home, enters a building unlawfully armed with a dangerous instrument or enters a building unlawfully and inflicts or attempt to inflicts bodily injury on someone.

Burglary in the second degree is when someone enters a business unlawfully.

All degrees of burglary require the intent to commit the crime against another person or property.

Apele said the crimes are being committed by people breaking into homes or breaking into businesses by using various means, but usually through a window, jimmied or cut screen, or prying open a door.

He also said property crimes usually are directly connected to individuals with drug problems, and there are plenty of repeat offenders.

“It is common for the same individual(s) who previously committed a burglary once to get caught again,” he said. “There are many repeat offenders.”

Sgt. Floyd Richards, a community police officer in Kona, said there are two main reasons someone commits the crime.

“Money and drugs,” he said.

Richards recommends that if you become a victim of burglary, don’t do anything hasty.

“If they ask for money, give them money,” he said.

And try to remember as much as you can about the intruder, he said.

“Be observant, all the way down to their height, weight and color of eyes,” he said.

Richards and Apele recommend Big Island residents take precautions by locking their doors, looking into installing an alarm system or creating a neighborhood watch group.

Richards also said to be wary of jalousie windows since they pop out easily.

Email Megan Moseley at mmoseley@westhawaiitoday.com.