Car thefts on record pace
By Allison Schaefers
Advertiser Staff Writer
The number of auto thefts on O'ahu increased significantly in the first six months of 2003 and may surpass the record set in 2002, according to the latest Honolulu Police Department statistics.
As of June 30, 4,313 vehicles had been stolen, an 11 percent increase over the first six months of last year, when there were 3,899 auto thefts, police said.
The increase has police especially concerned because auto thefts last year jumped 52 percent from 2001 to hit a record 8,488, and the upward trend is continuing, said Lt. Floyd Matsuda of HPD's auto theft detail.
Statewide, auto thefts have increased steadily for the three years through 2001, said Paul Perrone, chief of research for the state attorney general's Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division.
Hawai'i had the sixth highest auto theft rate in the United States in 2001, the latest nationwide comparisons available, Perrone said.
With O'ahu's 2002 and 2003 numbers showing increases, it's likely Hawai'i will continue to rank among the states with the highest rate of motor vehicle thefts, he said.
Matsuda said Honolulu police can't say why the number of auto thefts is rising. Among the possibilities are the sluggish economy and an increase in the use of crystal methamphetamine by criminals who steal cars to pay for their drugs, he said.
Most cars are taken for their parts, which are then resold illegally. Many are recovered within a few days, minus stereos, seats, mechanical parts and whatever else may be in demand by those who run thriving underground parts operations in garages, warehouses and backyards across the island.
A growing number of car thefts involve joy-riding. Thieves will use a car for a few hours or a few days, then abandon it and steal another.
There were 631,000 vehicles registered on O'ahu in 2001, according to state figures.
In an effort to help owners protect their cars and deter thieves, Honolulu police tomorrow will launch a free program to provide car owners a chance to have their vehicle's 17-digit identification number permanently etched into each piece of window glass on the vehicle, Matsuda said.
Police are hoping VIN etching will make cars less desirable to thieves and will help police recover stolen cars more quickly, Matsuda said.
The program will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Partnering for a Safe Community event at the Fred Wright Park in Wahiawa, he said. Car owners who want to have their cars etched can get tickets for the service at the community event.
Police will etch cars at the Wahiawa police station two blocks away, said Michelle Yu, Honolulu police spokeswoman.
A $39,000 federal law enforcement grant is paying for the program, Yu said.
The service will be performed at different dates and times through the year, and information will be posted on the department's Web site, www.honolulupd.org.
Reach Allison Schaefers at 535-8110 or aschaefers@honoluluadvertiser.com
