thieves, thieves, thieves

[John S. Rabi]

The idea might work in TX but discharging a firearm in a residential area is a crime in Hawaii.

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
75-5870 Walua Road, Suite 101
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
(808)327-3185

[nanasohana]

Well, if you leave building materials or tools right in the open on a building site, you might as well post a sign that says "COME AND GET IT". And the thieves take and don't consider if this material is to be sold as an investment or someones shelter for their family. Folks it is nothing new and happens everywhere. Here in Hawaii, on the mainland and for sure in Oklahoma as we experienced. So either put up a good fence and gate with a dog inside, live on sight while you build or only have tools and materials present while you are there. Now if theives get so brazzen to start entering a finished home, especially occupied, its time to be ready to defend yourselves and to constantly call the police about whats going on. I say "the squeaky wheel gets the grease".

[pam jones]

DeStef I feel so bad for you. Hope the few bad apples don't ruin your whole perception of Hawai'i or the many MANY people who would sooner give you their stuff than take yours. Sadly we are building our house with a "Build like you are in San Juan, Costa Rica or anytown Mexico" mentality. Reinforced doors, ACE laminates on all of the windows and of course overt and covert security (would it be against the law to put out bear traps on my land as long as there are ample do not enter signs?) Just a thought. We had a friend who asked their neighbor of over two decades to keep an eye out for his place while he went on a little trip. The neighbor did notice a truck in the driveway "around midnight one night," but thought it was a 'friend' over to get something from the carport. Common sense does NOT dictate!! He didn't call the cops or anything, just went back to bed. I've heard of a lot of people who would let people live in their house or on the property for free just to have a warm body on the premises. Maybe you could find a trustworthy soul who has minimul comfort needs and would be willing to rough it for a free place to crash. I've heard that if you ever shot anybody here, you better drag them inside the house otherwise YOU will be going away for a very long time. Awful to know the criminals have more rights than law abiding citizens but that's how it is here in paradise. Just ask the abused and neglected children how fair the system is. Best of luck to you and I hope your houses sell soon.



Edited by - pam jones on 05/12/2006 20:39:39

[Da Stef]

thanks for the x10.com lead. but they don't sell anything that I can use remotely. In other words, I'd have to have a tv/vcr/computer at the house. And considering the reason I want a surveillance...

stef

[Da Stef]

and for the record, we didn't leave a bunch of stuff out in the open with a big "COME AND GET IT" sign. We scheduled the workers to be there when the supplies came in and we only ordered what would be immediately worked on.

But many many many workers here come when they feel like it and don't when they don't. And the weather doesn't always allow them to work. and things always take longer than estimated.

And whatever supplies we couldn't nail down, we tried to cover or put out of view. It's not like I could put a few sheets of plywood on my back and take them home.

[HADave]

Aloha Da Stef, The .X10 product although does not provide remote monitoring doesn't the benefit of on sight recording directly to a VCR that can run a tape for 8 hours intrigue you. I presume that there is electricity on the lot/lots and I'm sure you could conceal all the equipment somehow even if you had to locate it underground. I'm told each piece requires power to it but the connection from the camera to the reciever/vcr is wireless. It does not provide the constant visual remote monitoring that you seem to want but to capture a video tape that you can pass on to the appropriate authorities would speak volumes in the theft community. I'm sure also when through with it you could easily resell the system to another victimized party eager for justice to be served. More importantly as a community all must never appear to be above the law in the quest for retribution. I sure hope that something works out for you. It is very tough trying to combat this mentality, and sometimes very unsafe. For your sake and the sake of others make good choices...

Aloha HADave

almost forgot here is a link to their least expensive, best quality, starting package.

http://www.x10.com/onsale/new.html

and they do ship to Hawaii



Edited by - HADave on 05/13/2006 03:50:15

[Ironman]

Folks:

Here is another suggestion. It appears that the criminals perfer to steal things that are easily fenced/sold and cannot be easily traced. As customers why don't we require ALL of the building supply houses to stamp (or emboss) with water proof ink each sheet of plywood, all framimg materials 2X4,2X6, etc with a simple (Name of buyer/jobsite and date of delivery. That way unlesss the criminals burn the materials for cooking/heating they would be easily identifiable and not easily resold.

OK, now I know there are those of you who will immediately say "that's going to increase our costs for materials" well if they want our business they need to help protect our investments!!!!!!!! So lets put some pressure on the other side of the equation.

Since the police don't seem to be the answer why not meet with the building suppliers and devise a way to make this potentially work Remember, there is no singular approach that will avert all problems. We need an integrated approach that is flexible that can evolve as the criminals change their tactics.

Good luck

Will Peratino

[Ironman]

Folks:

Another option, the ink could be invisible and only visible under black light, that way even the builders/cops etc that fence stolen goods would not be able to easily determine the source of the materials without allot of additional time and effort.

Will Peratino

[JerryCarr]

Does anyone on the forum know where crime statistics for the Big Island are published, on line or otherwise? When I lived in suburban Atlanta, the local authorities published statistics relating to total crimes reported and their resolution by categories. They also provided multi-year tables so we could see how things trended over time.

I have some theories about BI law enforcement, but feel like I need more information to really be entitled to a serious opinion. The last I heard about BI crime statistics the Herald-Tribune reported that they were way behind the other counties in reporting. Imagine that!

Mahalo,
Jerry

[David M]

Don't know when you lived in Atlanta, but I remember reading in AJC a year or two back where many of those statistics had been "fudged". May have been longed when the other crook was Mayor - my memory is slipping

David

quote:

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Does anyone on the forum know where crime statistics for the Big Island are published, on line or otherwise? When I lived in suburban Atlanta, the local authorities published statistics relating to total crimes reported and their resolution by categories. They also provided multi-year tables so we could see how things trended over time.

I have some theories about BI law enforcement, but feel like I need more information to really be entitled to a serious opinion. The last I heard about BI crime statistics the Herald-Tribune reported that they were way behind the other counties in reporting. Imagine that!

Mahalo,
Jerry

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Ninole Resident