Stephen Kirkwood said a thief broke into his black rental car at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Wayside Park. Stolen was his briefcase with Navy-related business papers, his daughter's backpack with her diabetes testing kit and her homework and a seawater straining device that Kirkwood wanted to show to the Navy.

Kirkwood, a consultant, said he stopped at the park to sightsee and has filed a police report on the theft.

Kirkwood said anyone who has the items should call him at (619) 318-8443 or (619) 421-8443.

State jails now have drug scanners

State officials have announced that all corrections facilities have been equipped with ion scanners that can detect drugs.

The devices, which have been tested for two months, will be used on everyone visiting an inmate and not on official business, said Ted Sakai, director of the state Department of Public Safety.

The scanners can identify up to 30 substances in a few seconds and can analyze trace particles collected by swabbing a hand, clothing article or other items. If a visitor's scan is positive, he or she may be asked to submit to a search or, given the option, to leave.

Suspect sought in Ala Moana theft

The police CrimeStoppers program has released the description of a man suspected of taking 125 items from an Ala Moana Center shop. The pieces, with a total value of $12,000, were taken from Laser Sculpture of Hawaii between 11 p.m. on Jan. 21 and 6 a.m. Jan. 22.

Police have a suspect, described as of medium height and build, with dark hair, possibly balding. He was seen wearing a red, white and blue windbreaker jacket, dark pants and white athletic shoes.

Anyone with information about this case may call detective David Lock at 547-7214, or phone in an anonymous tip to Crime-Stoppers at 955-8300 (*CRIME on a cellular phone).

Medical supplies stolen in Manoa

Thieves stole medical supplies from a Manoa garage over the weekend and the culprits may not have known how important the supplies are, the owner said.

Sometime between 11 p.m. Sunday and 1:30 a.m. Monday, burglars on McKinley Street removed eight large metal boxes containing stainless steel surgical plates and screws used in treating broken bones, said the owner, a trauma specialist who requested her name not be used.

More than 10 Hawai'i hospitals use the supplies, which were also going to Cambodia today on a medical mission, the owner said.

Nearly every item was marked with the Synthes name. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Skateboard victim was Kaimuki man

The victim in a skateboarding accident at Kapi'olani Community College has been identified as Gary James K. Laa of Kaimuki.

Laa, 20, was hurt at 1:55 a.m. Monday while riding his skateboard down a slope on the college campus. He was taken in critical condition to The Queen's Medical Center, where he died at 9:15 a.m. that day.

Crash victim was Waimanalo woman

A 47-year-old motorcyclist killed Sunday when she failed to negotiate a curve on Kaukonahua Road has been identified as Jacqui Blahak of Waimanalo.

Blahak appeared to have been traveling too fast along the road between Waialua and Wahiawa and ran head-on into an oncoming car, police said.

Blaze destroys Waiahole cottage

Fire destroyed a Waiahole Valley cottage Wednesday afternoon and police arrested the man suspected of setting it, but criminal property damage charges are unlikely to be filed against him.

Police responded to an argument between a father and son at 48-151 Waiahole Valley Road shortly after noon Wednesday. While officers were talking with the father, smoke came from the side of the main house, where a smaller building was burning. The son was standing nearby.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and estimated the total loss at $5,000. Police said most of the contents belonged to the son.

Clues sought in Wahiawa attack

Detectives are seeking information to help solve a case in which a man was found in Wahiawa, apparently severely beaten. The victim, identified as 43-year-old Mark Mehr, was found on a Wahiawa sidewalk Feb. 11, in front of an apartment building at 329 California Ave. Mehr was in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center yesterday.