thieves, thieves, thieves

[Da Stef]

We are building some houses to sell. They are almost done, but we have been having a alarming amount of vehicles of all shapes and sizes circling around our block. Now there is NOTHING else on our block nor the one behind us. The owner of the two lots behind us (and only the two lots behind us) decided to clear the lots to build, then changed his mind and left them there like that. So now we are completely exposed in front and back.

We've had people drive up those lots and steal lumber while we were building. Then we put up a fence. which they proceded to cut and steal more stuff. We had someone living there on and off to keep an eye on the place. And now my poor doggie is chained up there day and night (except when I go visit and let him run around).

The police and the hui have been notified and are keeping their eyes on our property. But they can be there 24/7.

I'm getting so frustrated that I'm ready to put barb-wire on both entrances of our street and the one behind us! And live at the houses with a shotgun attached to my hip!

Does anyone have good ideas on how to safeguard our investment? Surveillance companies? Anything?

stef

[jdirgo]

It is sad but true. The only time I have had problems with theft was during the construction phase of one of my houses. Once there was enough of a house there, I moved into it and the problems stopped. Unfortunately, sometimes being the first house on a street is not a good thing -- neighbors can be a real help. A friend of mine has had the same problems because she's building the first house on the street and she's only a few blocks from my home (unfortunately, not close enough to where I can watch it for her).

John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell

[JerryCarr]

Here in HPP the thieves use a variety of methods. Some build trails in from the back of the lots and carry off lumber a few pieces at a time. Others just wait til no one is around and haul off stuff by the truckload.

One poor guy at the end of our road was thrilled at the privacy his lot afforded until he learned what opportunities for theft it allowed. It seems they got an entire flatbed truckload of siding in the hour and a half between the time it was dropped off and he got there. They dismantled and stole his catchment tank twice before he thought to get it filled as soon as it went up. Much harder to steal a full one it seems. Another guy on the same road only has materials delivered when he is there and ready to use them, which helps, but certainly is not always practical.

[Da Stef]

We are pretty much done with the construction. We are actually pretty much done with the house. But now I think it's all the inside stuff they want. like the applainces, fixtures, ... I've heard of people even stealing the carpet off the floor.

[Ironman]

Folks:
If anything surprises me most about what I have read in this thread is the apparent acceptance of this problem and the complete lack of law enforcements willingness to do anything but document the event so the victim can file appropriately for insurance purposes (if they can afford insurance). Further, it seems that those who have been on island the longest (locals and transplants) appear the most accepting of these behaviors.

It appears that some have assumed a physiological posture that we should expect that if we cannot defend our homes and property through the use of force 24 hours a day, then expect it not to be there when you get home. That is absolutely absurd and unacceptable!!!!!!!!!!!

This is not a quaint local custom that we must adapt to. Nor is it something we should accept because ICE is such a problem or that unemployment is so high in Hawaii. These problems exist across this nation and around the world and when the right social pressures and responsible enforcement is consistently implemented these problems are the exception not the norm.

We pay taxes and oh by the way they have gone up allot. These tax supported services at a minimum should reflect that law enforcement MUST be willing and ABLE to protect the public and their property. If they cannot, then we see things like what happened after Katrina when all societal structures broke down and people reverted to primal behaviors. You don't realize how close you are to that same situation if society and law enforcement condones or accepts this level of personal violation.

I agree that there is an efficiently orchestrated network of these criminals that support each other. They are also usually repeat offenders well known in the law enforcement community. From the moment you give them your credit card at the store to the time the materials or goods are delivered to your residence, they have already shared the inventory of items, delivery time/dates, and perhaps even your credit card number within their network. Also understand that someone in your neighborhood is also perpetuating this behavior by purchasing all these stolen materials from these criminals. They know they are buying stolen goods and don't care who and how much it hurts them. These folks are the REAL problem because they create the demand; the crooks are the supply chain. They all get a piece of the pie so they all keep quiet and keep doing it, business as usual. These buyers are the first tier of enabler for this problem and should be the ones penalized the most.

Even families who have loved ones addicted to ICE turn their heads the other way and ignore these activities. They are the second tier enablers. They know it is going on and no one reports anything so what kind of neighbors are they really? This avoidance of the problem does not help their loved ones nor does it make our neighborhoods safer.

This is where community involvement and neighbors protecting neighbors really is the key but without serious and aggressive support, involvement, and action by law enforcement the situation will persist. Bad news is the criminals know this and they will continue to capitalize on the dysfunctional capacities of society, social, and law enforcements unwillingness to responsibly act.

Please excuse the obvious frustration, perhaps, the county should issue in addition to building permits the right to carry concealed weapons during the building process. If this was well publicized I bet the rate would plummet!



Will Peratino

[HADave]

Geesh, concealed weapons, easy cowboy ;/

Has anyone ever heard of a camera trap we use them in Maine to film wildlife, candidly. They work great! motion sensors trigger the camera and presto yep they have even been known to catch the ellusive poacher redhanded. law enforcement folks have no choice but to find and prosecute when you have a picture. Check this example out and I believe there are those cheaper as well.

http:/www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?=4555

HADave

well the link doesn't exactly end up at the exact page but type in camera in the search block there are a few there to see. )

Edited by - HADave on 05/12/2006 05:58:46

[JerryCarr]

Ironman makes some excellent points about the culture of acceptance and enabling. Ever since I began visiting Hawaii, I have paid close attention to the crime news in the newspapers and on TV. I was impressed early on by the comparatively lenient sentences handed down by the courts for what were described as serious or repeat offenses. I also noted the relative ease with which low bonds or personal recognisance (misp.) were available. (In one fairly recent incident I seem to recall an obviously drunk driver who killed a pedestrian being sent home without bail while the cops investigated.)

At first I just thought that my perception was skewed by my lifelong residence in Texas and the Deep South, where things can get draconian in a heartbeat, and both the police and courts have a history of going over the top. Then I began to hear complaints from life-long residents about lax enforcement and lack of consequences for repeat offenders.

The legislature just passed a three strikes law that will enforce stiffer penalties for repeat violent offenders, but it seems the bigger problem is with the tolerance of endemic petty crime and property offenses. I have read sociological research which convincingly asserts that when petty and property offenses are vigorously and fairly policed and prosecuted, ALL crime goes down. I don't claim to know all the answers, but there does seem to be room for a lot of discussion about law enforcement in Hawaii.

Aloha,
Jerry

[bystander]

It's not that the local people here are tolerant, it's that we've learned there's not much we can do about the theft. When my house was broken into, I got just as angry as any of you would. Don't blame the problem on the people here.

[huligirl]

Getting angry isn't a solution. What did you do about the robbery of your home and what was the outcome? Was there any follow up? Curious here

[Ironman]

Folks:

It was only a permit for a concealed weapon, not a license to Kill. Deterrent!!!!!

On the productive side, Stef said that it was obvious which cars and people are driving around and casing homes, job sites, etc. Why don't we all begin taking digital photos of them (cars, license plates, people) identifying the time/date/location and post them in this forum under "Suspicious Activities In Puna" thread. That way if anything goes missing we will have a documented person/car/plate for the time/date etc.

OK, I know it’s not an optimal solution but it is a start and as stated by Jerry if you have the picture then the cops have to respond.

BTW, for jobsites the little wireless webcam cameras could be hidden in a tree and you could get a wealth of information safely storing it to a server in the sky where even if the criminal found the camera they couldn't destroy the evidence.

Aloha


Will Peratino