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I agree, alarm systems are not expensive. I have one. It's kinda the cheap version but certainly works.
Actually, I was thinking about this whole issue this morning and was wondering what kind of influence can be had in a timely basis for little money. It's a complicated question but here is an idea and another suggestion for public scrutiny.
Suppose one gets a cheap used Caravan or some such. The more generic the vehicle the better. Suppose on sticks a dozen or so web cams in it, running to a laptop with an air card and a separate small battery bank. The web cam images are streamed then in real time to a public website. Volunteers monitor the web cab and report incidents as they're visible. You park the van down town Pahoa or where ever. Move it around as need be.
I expect there's a business opportunity in this idea somewhere for some one.
This sort of thing would achieve a couple of ends. First, in an immediate basis can get some surveillance in problem areas as it is needed. It involves the community at large. As well, it would educate a lot of people as to the depth of the problem and what a zoo Pahoa in particular can be after hours. All of this seems to be a step in the right direction and a quick one.
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... I still wonder what were they expecting to find at a real estate office, land?!
Maybe they thought they would find computers, fax machines, phone sytems, petty cash etc..
I don't think this is related to the economic conditions. Not that we won't see these types of incedents on the rise. Sorry but it sounds more like a group of tweekers. Tweekers think that the world is their play ground after 12pm. Thus you see crimes of opportunity such as these, late at nightand some what petty. I know, it's not petty when you're on the Ruedogg/Island trust realty side of it.
The security patrol is the best idea yet but will all the shop keepers be willing to pitch in?
I bet the local police know exactly who's doing this crap. We saw this on Moloka'i where there was a group of kids (16-24) ripping off people and places. Everyone knew who was doing it but it seemed Ok as long as the people/victoms were newbies/houlie or tourist. Eventually there was a car wreck and the police found a bunch of hot sht in the truck. One kid died on scene and another was in the hospital for a while but all the theiving stopped. No chrges were ever filed.
This may upset soem folks but it is acceptable for locals to rip off houlies to feed their families. I saw this first hand on Kauai after the iniki. If the economic situation gets real bad these relationships here on PW may be yous guys only saving grace.
Now I'm not saying Damon is going to be running around ripping people off.. but youu may want to shoot him on site just to be on the safe side. [
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Blessings,
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young
Blessings,
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young
Maybe the police used the place as “bait” hoping that the thief would return. I wouldn’t be all that quick to condemn the police unless all information is in.
The Lack
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But, its always the Police's fault.. right??? [:o)]
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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
The Wilder Side Of Hawaii
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"... This may upset soem folks but it is acceptable for locals to rip off houlies to feed their families. ..."
Interesting.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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Yep, it might have been acceptable in the past, but if the authorities look the other way now there will be some big money changing hand and the county will have to redo its budget.
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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
The Wilder Side Of Hawaii
JWFITZ wrote:
Suppose one gets a cheap used Caravan or some such. The more generic the vehicle the better. Suppose on sticks a dozen or so web cams in it, running to a laptop with an air card and a separate small battery bank. The web cam images are streamed then in real time to a public website. Volunteers monitor the web cab and report incidents as they're visible. You park the van down town Pahoa or where ever. Move it around as need be.
You may have hit a homer here, in fact IT MAY GO ALL THE WAY!!!
Auntie E should cough-up some of that contingency money she has for purchasing votes and turn a little in for equipment to furnish a van. Maybe the police already have some such piece of equipment in their arsenal of surveillance gear. I would take it a step further and make the surveillance equipment self-contained and portable as to move it to any vehicle at any time. Ounce a vehicle has been identified by the perp’s change it to another in the matter of minutes.
Getting volunteers to watch “live time” computers can become a social event after hours for many people. This could enable lots of good people to monitor the seen from a safe distance and not have to confront the criminals. A recording of the crime could be used in any court to assist the prosecuting attorney’s case and send these criminals away to rethink about the life of crime.
The Lack
Posts: 414
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Joined: Jun 2006
"Maybe the police used the place as “bait” hoping that the thief would return. I wouldn’t be all that quick to condemn the police unless all information is in"
"But, its always the Police's fault.. right???"
LOL.. Police in Hawaii pick and choose what they pursue. I don't live on the BI so maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's better there but it sure sounds like the SOS to me. I wont be there for at least a year, at this point, but when/if I do move to Hawaii, again, my experience tells me that I WILL NOT count on the local law enforcement to protect me or my stuff.
As someone who deals in rural relocation I see many people that move to the country and expect city services... it ain't gonna happen. Maybe as the area grows and more people like Rob get in there but mean while you better lock it up.
And yes Eightfingers it is "interesting" but it's also a very sad fact.
Blessings,
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young
Blessings,
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young
Posts: 1,273
Threads: 41
Joined: Oct 2007
Thanks Tom, I think it's a not so whacky idea and would be cost effective and immediately implementable. It is important as a deterrent to make a life of crime as full of paranoia and fear as one of a honest citizen. If it gets about that any random parked car may be taking picture of you anywhere any time it will modify some behavior for certain.
A constructive point worth discussing is the relative value of deterrents rather than punishments. It is vastly more effective to make crimes difficult to commit, or not worth committing, than to control crime by threat of incarceration. For many, especially an a scenario of overcrowded jails and revolving door sentences, a trip to jail is no punishment whatsoever, and no longer a deterrent either. I don't know how crowded jails are locally if it is anything as is typical it's pretty glutted. The juvenile system is probably worse yet. Of course deterrents don't apply to random tweaker issues at all. . .or perhaps other issues here discussed.
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