KHON-article

September 28, 2013

Windward Oahu residents fed up with rash of thefts

By Vanessa Stewart

This normally quiet neighborhood in Kailua, has become a target for thieves in the past few months.
“The car was parked right here the car was parked underneath the carport,” Kailua theft victim Larry Bartley said.
A few weeks ago, Bartley’s van was broken into overnight.
“I had a very expensive lap-top computer that was stolen last week kind of hampered my ability to do work,” Bartley said.
He says car break-ins have doubled between last summer and this summer.
According to crime mapping, there were 81 crimes related to vehicle break-in and theft on Ohana Street from July 1 to September 28.
Bartley is not the only victim.
“These were the cupboards so we had the tools in here,” Kailua resident Alana Busekrus said.
Alana Busekrus said her husband’s tools were stolen a few weeks after they moved into their home.
After getting their tools stolen, thieves stole her niece’s wallet out of her car parked near outside their home.
Busekrus reported the incident to police and then a week later, her daughter found a clue.
“I was just bringing my bike out and I saw this little bag and it had a lighter and a driver’s license and brought it into my Dad and he said we should give it to the police,” Kailua theft victim Lise Busekrus said.
“We called the police thinking it might have been belonging to a victim and the police said that that was a person they’ve actually attached several of these crimes already,” Alana said.
While suspects are being arrested, residents feel not enough is being done to prevent repeat offenders.
“A lot of people feel really threatened more than me about people coming onto their property and stealing things they have a lot of fear,” Bartley said.
So the neighborhood board is doing something to get those concerns addressed.
“I’ve had a lot of neighbors complain to me that the same people are breaking in getting busted out on the street again immediately doing it again. Based on that we passed a motion on the Kailua Neighborhood Board to invite Keith Kaneshiro to our meeting” Bartley said.
Bartley says the board received confirmation that Honolulu prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro will attend the next board meeting.
The meeting will be held at the Kailua Rec Center Thursday, October 3 at 7 p.m.