A water main break in Nanakuli today cut off water to a shopping plaza, church and several businesses and forced police to close a portion of Farrington Highway.

The 12-inch main break was reported at 12:53 a.m. on Farrington Highway between Nanaikeola Street and Lualualei Naval Road, said Board of Water Supply spokeswoman Denise DeCosta.

Police closed one Wai'anae-bound lane as Board of Water Supply crews repaired the break. DeCosta said repairs were expected to be completed by this afternoon.

Boy breaks arm in domestic fight

A 14-year-old boy suffered a broken arm after he tried to intervene during an argument between his father and his older brother last night in Punchbowl, police said.

Police said the 47-year-old father and 18-year-old son were engaged in a heated argument when the 14-year-old boy stepped between them and attempted to push his father at their Puowaina Drive home.

The father grabbed his younger son and threw him out of the way, police said. The boy landed on the floor and broke his forearm bone, police said. The father was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, police said.

Suspected Big Island purse snatcher arrested

Hilo Criminal Investigation Section detectives arrested and charged a 40-year-old Hilo man Monday with nine offenses in connection with three purse snatchings.

Edward J. Villanueva was arrested Saturday and later charged at 4:25 p.m. Monday with two counts of robbery, four counts of theft and three counts of forgery. He is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of a total bail of $9,500.

Police also seized an automobile in connection with the investigation.

Villanueva allegedly used the charge card of one of the victims at various locations in Hilo. He was photographed on videotape using the card, detectives said.

The first purse snatching occurred on July 25 in downtown Hilo. The next occurred on July 30 at Prince Kuhio Plaza, but bystanders intervened to recover the victim's purse. The third purse snatching occurred the following day, also at Prince Kuhio Plaza.

Anyone with information about any of the purse snatchings or other similar incidents is asked to call Detective Andrew Burian of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2381 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Calls can also be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Police put out alert on "gifting club" scam

CrimeStoppers, the Honolulu Police Department and the State Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs are alerting the public about a "gifting club" scam that has been operating over the past eight months on O'ahu.

The recent scam, known as "Women's Circle," claims to be raising money for women in need. The scam requires participants to pay money, typically $250 to $5,000, and then recruit new members. New club members give cash "gifts" to the highest-ranking club member. If they get additional members to join the club, new members are promised that they, too, will rise to become eligible to receive money, far more than they initially paid to join the club.

Illegal "gifting clubs" must continually recruit ever-increasing numbers of members to survive. When the clubs don't attract enough new members, they collapse. Most members who paid to join the club never receive the financial "gifts" they expected and lose everything they paid to join.

Anyone who has participated in or been victimized by this scheme should contact Detective Tim Walsh, White Collar Crime Unit at 529-3568.

Before investing in any club, check with the state Office of the Commissioner of Securities, Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, at 586-2740.