Crime Statistics - Hawai'i County/Puna

[opihikao]

There have been so many reports of criminal behavior recently (maybe the past year or two, or three) on our island, it warrants discussion.

For example, assaults, domestic violence, robbery, car/truck thefts, burglary, suicide ideations, drugs (incl. dealers, and passed out peeps along the roadside; daily occurance, btw.), thieves stealing in broad daylight from your shopping cart, or parked car, accidents (incl. fatal), etc. This is getting out of hand, and we need to contribute to catching these people who feed off us and our communities.

If you listen to the police scanner, (link below) the amount of calls to Puna are unbelievable since the lava stopped flowing near Pahoa. We're right back to the 70-80% calls being from "Puna". It is getting really, really, bad.

Neighborhood watch programs are great, everyone needs to participate. Call in everything that seems peculiar; everything. I've made a list for my kids and mo'opuna of what to watch for and when to call "Non-Emergency" number, or 911.

The list below is a start, please add to it, as we need to be maka'ala (aware) of the crime that is becoming uncontrollable by police on our island:


1) Lock your car doors immediately after getting out, and in, even at home.

2) Lock your home doors always (obviously), and invest in a security system (prices are dropping), and a dog or two.

3) Don't fall for people who need to "use the phone", need gas, waiting for someone, etc. BS. Call the cops.

4) In a store, DO NOT leave your purse (ladies) in the cart for a second!

5) Report all suspicious activity no matter how miniscule. There are "rings" of these thieves roaming all over (not all from here) from Kona to Hilo to Puna. There are "chop shops" all over, including Opihikao! [!]

Today, there were three (3) guys in a truck (stolen, of course) cruising Paradise Park, with ski masks and bandanas around their necks, with several warrants attached (if the "reporting party" is correct).

As I type, there is a guy going into someone's house with a gun in Hawaiian Acres, line went dead. On call back, "perp" is leaving in his truck. [V] Here is the link to listen to all this crap:

http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/17063/web

For the love of God, we need to make sure we watch our neighborhoods with diligence. I can't even let the little mo'opuna roam in our fenced/rock walled home, for fear of some nutjob snatching them! We have several "Registered" child molesters in our Puna. Be aware. Here is a link to check:

US Department of Justice - National Sex Offender Search

http://www.nsopw.gov/en-US/Search


Please help return our community to the place we all grew up in, moved to, retired in, etc. Stand up against these people who threaten our peaceful existence.

Yes, we accept change; but not this kind of HEWA LOA, stealing, robbing, swindling, assaulting, drug induced, bunch of bottom feeding, no job, lazy, criminal, bunch of stealing, robbing, lowlifes. GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF PUNA!

(Sorry for the caps, but I'm pissed off.)

Please add to the list of what we need to do to keep our families safe, our community safe, and help get these criminals the hell out of our lives.

Oh, and we also should make sure the damn justice system wakes the hell up, and stop the ever revolving damn door. My God!

Apologies for my rant. Rant over...for now.

JMFO. [!]

[PunaMauka2]

Some hard statistics indicating any sudden change in crime levels locally would be helpful before we all reflexively jump off the deep end in fearful vigilante hysterics.

[Chunkster]

Do not apologize for recognizing that we have a problem and need to do something about it. It was a useful rant. You are right about the justice system needing to go harder on criminals. Our prosecutor has been quoted as saying that for every person he sends to prison, they have to let some other criminal out. Rubbish! Those guys in Arizona will build and staff as many prison cells as we ask them to. Better yet, build them here and keep the money in the state. Kulani could be expanded. I know someone will come along shortly and say, "But how will we pay for this?" or "It's cruel to send them so far away." Well, look at it as an investment. Once the criminal element realize that they will be locked up for a very long time, they will be less inclined to rob, steal, rape and assault folks. That will make up for the expense of incarceration, which might become less necessary over time anyway.

If Mitch Roth wants to be a social worker, he should change jobs. I once asked a Puna Community Policing Officer why so many criminals got off so easily. His response was an eye opener. He said that the cops blame the judges for giving light sentences, the judges blame the prosecutors for not building stronger cases, and the prosecutors blame the police for not bringing them "perfect" evidence chains and arrest procedures. Am I the only one who sees a circular blame game going on here? The CPO went on to say that while most cops still try to get everything right, some have actually given up trying and just do the least they can to keep their jobs. Pretty sad, huh?

Now you know you're not the only one who will rant about this, Opihikao.

[opihikao]

Evidenced online, PM2, and on this forum. What are you doing about it? Or, are you just baiting me again? Please explain, and show us what you come up with to contribute.

Otherwise, why bother responding? Did you do your own homework? (All rhetoric questions).

Your terminology is baiting, for the record, and " vigilante hysteria" was not the intent of the post.



JMO.
ETA: Thanks, Chunkster, for understanding the purpose. Either we stick our heads in the ground and claim, "I live in paradise", or we accept the fact our communities are at risk, and we ALL need to step up. It is SO disturbing what is going on. Re: Prosecutors office... [xx(] JMO.

[Chunkster]

Punamauka2, nobody said anything about going out with ropes and pitchforks. You're the one getting hysterical. What part of locking up more criminals do you not like? Just the other day, the local paper reported a return to near record levels of violent crime after a bit of a break.

[shockwave rider]

Remember that PM2 is the guy who thinks a rapist is still innocent after he has pled guilty in the face of DNA evidence, so it seems he has a soft spot for violent criminals.

[TomK]

I'm a little torn here. As a scientist I rely on real documented evidence, but I don't have that right now. However, in the last few months, the amount of suspicious activity in our little neighborhood has increased dramatically. Fortunately, a very troublesome neighbor a few years ago brought our small community closer together and now we all have plans and a communication system in case any of us feel threatened or see something unusual.

Just a couple of weeks ago I installed a couple of solar powered security lights. For weeks we had spate of vehicles driving down here at night, parking and the occupants wandering around looking at various properties. When questioned, the answer was always they were looking for a friend, but then always drove off immediately when asked who they were looking for. Since the lights went up, they turn around and drive off immediately, and in the last few days we've had no "visitors". These are lights that turn on for a short time when motion is detected,so there is certainly a "surprise" factor in play.

It's probably too short a period to know if the lights are really having an effect, but so far so good. I suspect, however, it will just move these people to other areas.

[PunaMauka2]

Wow... ask for some documented evidence and out come the pitchforks getting all personal about it.

Alright, alright... do your thing here.

But shockwave rider, I think you know that last comment of yours was ridiculous and totally uncalled for.

[opihikao]

quote:

---

Originally posted by PunaMauka2

Wow... ask for some documented evidence and out come the pitchforks getting all personal about it.

Alright, alright... do your thing here.

But shockwave rider, I think you know that last comment of yours was ridiculous and totally uncalled for.

---

Well, the truth does hurt, doesn't it? (Rhetoric, again. Don't bother...please.)

Mr. Tom, first aloha to you and Pam. The "proof" is not all "documentation", as we all cannot have each and every single police report. Listen on your time off from being a scientist, to the police/fire link. It's astounding, Sir! OMG. Not "hysterical" about it, but "maka'ala" (alert/aware). From morning 'til night, the calls in Puna specific, are quite concerning.

Another thing to remember is the "door to door salesman" thing. The guys with the "cleaners" are back in white vans (from California), as an example.

The other concern is for kupuna: Those calls and internet messages trying to steal their hard earned money (three this week so far). Those kupuna who live alone are a target. Make no mistake. Watch for them if their family doesn't live nearby, or care.

We need to be an asset to our police (not enough on the streets), and as Chunkster stated, the Prosecutor's office needs LOTS of help. Give them the evidence directly; if a victim, use their "system" to make sure your case isn't compromised; etc. Chunkster is spot on with the "circle of blame". Enough is enough! [!] Politics does not get to dictate WTH is going on in our community. NO.

JMO.

[PunaMauka2]

"I'm a little torn here."

Actually, I am too. Friends and colleagues of mine in the area were recently the victims of two costly and very brazen burglaries. That doesn't mean that I don't want to see real evidence of a crime surge before I assume it is a fact and participate with the typical irate hysterics.