Hawaiian Paradise Park Neighborhood Watch

[missydog1]

I'm with everyone who's sick and tired of the theft and applaud you all for working to make it end.

I'd just like to say that in my experience the police follow-up is not better than you describe in other parts of East Hawai`i. There is little or no follow-up after the report gets filed.

I had two experiences with it
first was in Papa`ikou ... my neighbors who were building had tools stolen. In this case, the police were confident it was the scurvy crew the non-contractor had hired that did the deed.

So ... were they arrested and charged, even though they had been working there for two months and their names were well known. No. And for sure, in this case, that was not a case of letting someone's cousin off the hook. The police thought they were scum.

Instead, the police response to me, as the person next door was -- yes, these guys have had time to scope you out. Protect your stuff, lock it up, make sure someone is home ... yada yada yada. Do it yourself security.

Second time, in Hilo, our cars got hit during the night, and we were told there was a known gang of youth with this MO in the neighborhood. The officer reluctantly dusted for prints. Soon after, a neighbor house got hit in broad daylight. The police came over to see if we saw anyone break in. We didn't. That was the end of that.

It's almost like there's a disconnect in the mindset of the officers from the idea we have of investigating and solving crimes. Maybe I watch too much TV!

Here, they take the report, as if that is the job. They ask a few questions. They have a pretty good idea who did it. They seem to file that idea until such time they can catch the guys in the act. As if that' very likely, with so few of them on patrol.

I don't think they even contact people when they do recover stolen property. From time to time they do bust people with stolen stuff, but does anyone know what happens to it? (I don't)

More recently, I talked to an officer up my way, near Onomea, who was working on the car break-in problem (at least one a day at the public trailhead). He told me there was lots of theft in the area. Told me to make friends with my neighbors, lock up, be concerned with people creeping in at night.

Did he care? Yes, this officer cared. (he appeared by his accent to be a transplant, so maybe he's not inured yet)
But at the same time I could see he didn't feel like the police are able to stop this kind of crime.

To give them credit, given that they can't just bust into suspects' houses without probable cause, they end up in a situation where they know from talking to people who the bad apples are, but that's as far as they get.

In sum, it's not just HPP. Even Hilo, the town that supposedly gets all the services, there's still no solution.

But I wish you all the best of luck getting on top of your situation. The HPP crime does sound like the number of occurrences are off the scale.

[PunaLover]

It is unfortunate that there are too few able cops that actually follow a case through prosecution, By the way the cases are bounced around is something else. You have to actually call them every week so your case doesn't get burried in the pile. For those of you who have been here long enough all I have to say is (Dana Ireland,r.i.p.) to remind long time residents that we haven't made much progress since.
We need more cops on the street because if they don't see it they're reluctant to even write a report. And give you and attitude because you are instant upon doing so. Then they have to go all the way back to the station to fill out the paper work because they don't have computers in their cars.
EVERYONE should be in their neighborhood watch, it's called a community and yes there is no room for crooks, crackheads and cowards.

you're either part of the solution or part of the problem, no sittin on the fence or we'll send them to the other side of yours where they can camp out. peeuww

[Greg]

Peter, I'm not in HPP, but sympathize with your problem.

I assume your subdivision has a road maintenance fee that can be spent only on items related directly to your roads.

Question: Could some of those funds be used to employ a couple of security guards to cruise around and guard the "roads"? If they note any other suspicious activity, so much the better.

Just a thought about creative interpretation of by-laws. Aloha, Greg

[PunaLover]

I wish they could, I'm pretty sure the courts keep them restricted to road repair and maintence. And that really catch as catch can. You're luck to see a piece of road equiptment to smooth out the washboard and potholes once a year, maybe!
There are maybe 30-40 Neighborhood Watch members at best. So you can see there is a BIG void that the burglars seen to be enjoying quite nicely. But if you want to call the Hui and ask them their number is 808-966-4500. Susan Mayhew is the mgr.
Roads are repaired on the complaint system, those that are complained about the most get fixed most.

[Kapohocat]

two things:

I found the gentlemen who are working with the roads in HPP to be very nice. We asked some questions about cuttign grade - they were helpful about what they needed and what we needed.

Thank you Punapetah for staying involved.

[seasidebob]

Note of caution: cops came around our jobsite today in HPP. House down the street had their freezer stole right out of the carport. We have a guy staying on the jobsite at night. When he got there, there was some shady looking characters in the driveway. Just his driving up caused them to move on.

[PunaLover]

Well this is what this "thread"was all about.
Neighbors watchin out for each other.
How many people in HPP are willing to join in and support you neighbors?

[canhle]

I am willing to join when i move there in April 2008. Thanks punapetah for initiating.

canhle

[Kelena]

Perhaps we could identify streets where these activities have occured. We need a map, perhaps published in the Conch. The situation sounds like it is getting worse. We want to live where we can leave the doors unlocked, you know, like in Canada.

[Kapohocat]

The incident seaside bob was talkign about was 27th between Makuu & Paradise about noon.