Palolo Valley beset by burglaries

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

A recent rash of burglaries in Palolo Valley has residents locking their doors and fearful of strangers, but police say the crime spree may have come to an end with the arrest of two young brothers who are the primary suspects.

For the 20-day period from Jan. 19 to Feb. 8 there were 36 burglaries in the valley, 20 of which occurred in beat 763 that runs through the heart of Palolo.

"If you compare this year's numbers to last year's numbers, you'll see a tremendous increase in the number of burglaries," said board member Phyllis Castro. "We used to have two to five break-ins a month, but starting in December or January it has gone up to about one a day."

Capt. Marie McCauley of the Honolulu Police Department said the number of burglaries has increased in Palolo with 77 on beat 763 last year, up from 45 in 2001.

"Burglaries were way up a month ago, but a couple of characters have been arrested and the number has dropped significantly," McCauley said. "I don't want people to overreact when the situation is being addressed. But then again we do want to have the Neighborhood Security Watch involved."

The Palolo Neighborhood Board will discuss the problem at its next meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Lt. Kurt Nakamura, who heads HPD's burglary/theft detail for East O'ahu, said the two juveniles arrested were part of a group of about five boys who hang around together and are suspects in several crimes.

Nakamura said since the arrests in February, burglaries on beat 763 have dropped from 16 that month to 13 in March and two so far in April.

Sen. Les Ihara, D-9th (Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Palolo), said despite the arrests, crime is still a major concern for the valley and he is trying to help reactivate some of the neighborhood watch patrols that may have gone dormant in recent years.

Ihara said many watch patrols were formed during a high-crime period in the 1990s but are no longer active. He would like as many block captains as possible, active or not, to attend the board meeting to get organized again.

He would also like to put some type of a notification system at the two main roads entering the valley, such as a chalkboard or a sign, to alert residents to recent crimes.

"People need to become aware that there is this break-in problem," Castro said. "One house half a block from me was hit three times."

Castro said most of the burglaries have taken place during the daytime when no one is home.

"Criminals will go up to the door and knock and if no one answers the door, they will break in," she said. "If you hear breaking glass, call the police. It you see someone unusual, call the police."

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.