Posted on: Saturday, December 25, 2004

'Thieves' terrorize Waimanalo farm

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

A woman whose family operates a truck farm in Waimanalo said the farm was hit Thursday night by thieves who broke through the front gate and destroyed two golf carts the family uses to tend to its crops.

The woman said the family was called to the farm, at 41-550 Kumuhau St., about 12:15 a.m. yesterday and discovered the broken gate and damaged golf carts. An irrigation pipe also was damaged, the woman said.

She said her 75-year-old father decided to stay overnight at the farm to protect the family's property. At about 2 a.m. yesterday morning, a pickup truck came down the driveway leading to the farm but stopped when it approached the father's car.

As her father was getting out of his car, he heard two gunshots and saw the truck leave the area.

The woman, who did not want her or her family's name used in this story for fear of reprisals, said her father became frightened and went to police to report the incident.

"This is the eighth time this year our farm has been broken into," the woman said. "We started with eight golf carts to haul fertilizer and equipment around but we are down to just two now because the thieves keep breaking them," the woman said.

"We are from Laos originally and know about the problems the Laotian farmer in Kahuku had," the woman said.

Khamxath Baccam, 48, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting Sept. 7 of an alleged thief near Baccam's Kahuku farm.

Police have said that Baccam confessed to the slaying of Marcelino Pacheco, 38, because Baccam believed Pacheco had been stealing equipment and produce from his farm. Baccam pleaded not guilty. His attorney said Baccam will plead self-defense at trial later this year.

Reach David Waite at 525-8090 or at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.