A Waipahu man will be arraigned Thursday in Circuit Court in connection with a burglary on July 25 in which firearms were stolen.

Vic Delos Reyes Malaqui, 24, was charged Aug. 17 with first-degree burglary and was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The victim of the July 25 break-in is a retired police officer. Malaqui also is a suspect in another burglary in which firearms were stolen from a law enforcement officer's home.

Eight cases involving firearm offenses are under investigation, police said.

They said they found at least four stolen guns in Malaqui's possession when he was arrested Aug. 16 at a Waipahu home on Pupukupa Street.

While in custody in connection with the July 25 burglary, Malaqui pleaded guilty Aug. 20 to second-degree terroristic threatening and third-degree theft charges.

In addition, he recently pleaded no contest to first-degree burglary and firearm offenses unrelated to the current case and will be sentenced Sept. 25.

AUTHORITIES ISSUE MOSQUITO ALERT

The state Department of Health is encouraging residents to take steps to control mosquito populations around their homes and properties.

Hawai'i is free of dengue fever and the West Nile virus, two diseases that are caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. Reducing mosquitoes can help prevent and control these diseases if they enter the Islands.

Because mosquitoes breed in standing water, the first and best practice is to remove items or places where water collects, such as old tires, empty flower pots, buckets and old toys. Bromeliads can collect water in their crowns, but if they are flushed out every week, mosquito larvae can be prevented from hatching.

"We want to educate the public about the potential threat of mosquito-borne diseases being established in our state, and ask for their help in controlling mosquito populations," said Laurence Lau, deputy director of the DOH Environmental Health Administration.

FUGITIVE CHARGED WITH ROBBERY

A fugitive wanted on three warrants totaling $33,000 was charged yesterday with Saturday's robbery of a delivery man in McCully.

Joseph K. Austin, 30, who has no permanent local address, was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and unauthorized possession of personal confidential information. He was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Prosecutors on Sunday charged a second suspect in the case, Gerald Lewis Austin, 30, with two counts of second-degree robbery. It is unknown if the Austins are related.

FIRE DESTROYS KAHULUI HOME

Fire yesterday destroyed a two-bedroom Maui home on Kamehameha Avenue in Kahului.

Firefighters responding to the 4:46 p.m. alarm had the fire under control at 5:03 p.m., a county news release said. No injuries were reported.

Fire officials estimated losses at $80,000 to the structure and $20,000 to the contents.