ATTENTION: A guide to reducing crime in Puna. (Hilo: live, homeless)

[Paddywagons]

Property crime is just the cost of living on earth; virtually nobody - nowhere can escape it. As you point out, there are measures we can take such as you have: not leaving any valuables in plain view to tempt thieves; keeping big dogs; and very importantly - ACTIVELY looking out for one another. Apathy and ignorance are very dangerous bedfellows. If one doesn't want to become a victim - get involved!

[kani-lehua]

joyce lee's letter to the editor of today's star bulletin asks, "can hawai'i still call itself the aloha state?" apparently, her father's friends, a pastor and his family, left their backpack containing all their important documents, wallet, cash and digital camera in the car while they left and went to go and eat somewhere at ala moana center. guess what happened? everything was stolen. hello?! crime is everywhere!

[KimoJimo]

Originally Posted by kani-lehua

joyce lee's letter to the editor of today's star bulletin asks, "can hawai'i still call itself the aloha state?" apparently, her father's friends, a pastor and his family, left their backpack containing all their important documents, wallet, cash and digital camera in the car while they left and went to go and eat somewhere at ala moana center. guess what happened? everything was stolen. hello?! crime is everywhere!

Why would ANYONE ANYWHERE leave "important documents, wallet, cash and a digital camera" in a car??? That is just downright stupid!

[kani-lehua]

that's the point i was trying to make. you never leave anything unattended. like i said, "crime is everywhere."

[Margo L]

I did the same when I visited Hawaii. leave your car doors open...and like you said, the neighbor down the street probably borrowed your lawn tools!! they probably would have asked you first if they could borrow them. I agree, know your neighbor, look out for your neighbor, treat others they way you want to be treated and everything will be just fine. And if your neighbor needs a hand, lend him a hand! that is what hospitality is all about!! I even went down to the beaches were I saw Hawaiian sleeping in tents because they either got evicted out of their houses, or could not afford to live. If I had the resources I would make it a point to help out my neighbors, I would still consider those my neighbors living on the beach!! Mahalo! I hope to make it to Puna soon!

[IntoTheMystic]

Originally Posted by Margo L

I did the same when I visited Hawaii. leave your car doors open...and like you said, the neighbor down the street probably borrowed your lawn tools!! they probably would have asked you first if they could borrow them. I agree, know your neighbor, look out for your neighbor, treat others they way you want to be treated and everything will be just fine. And if your neighbor needs a hand, lend him a hand! that is what hospitality is all about!! I even went down to the beaches were I saw Hawaiian sleeping in tents because they either got evicted out of their houses, or could not afford to live. If I had the resources I would make it a point to help out my neighbors, I would still consider those my neighbors living on the beach!! Mahalo! I hope to make it to Puna soon!

And how would you recommend I deal with my peeping tom/stalker Puna neighbor who lives in a tent?
I appreciate the positive approach, but truly the world is a bit more complicated than "If you just love everyone, they will just love you back." Even in Hawaii. When people break into your house and steal all of your stuff, it's not because you didn't show them hospitality. It's because they need money.

[Paddywagons]

Manufacturers have the ability to decrease much of the car theft that occurs everywhere. The problem is that they profit when cars are stolen and need to be replaced! Everything is intentionally produced to be disposable in today’s market, including cars! Why would a manufacturer try to decrease his market by helping you to keep your car for any longer than he has to? It sounds absurd, but it's reality! You can install a simple concealable 'kill switch' in a car for as cheap as $5. If you don't know how, get a mechanic to do it for $25 or so, it's worth it. It should only take a few minutes to do it. I bought a 'kill switch' kit for $6 and installed it in under a half hour without any experience. It's a start and doing nothing is just lazy, so if you have enough energy to complain, re-channel it & install a 'kill switch.'

A ‘kill switch’ simply interrupts the electric current to the starter when the ignition is activated thereby preventing the starter to engage and turn over the engine.

It's really just a 'toggle' switch that is installed in one of the wires. Be sure that you get a properly rated switch and extension wires to handle the amount of current that will pass through, DON'T put in a switch or wires that are underrated.

I bought mine in some auto parts store. As I said, I did it myself and just about anybody can do it. The back of the package has a simple to follow diagram and instructions.

If you're worried about installing it yourself, just about any certified auto mechanic not looking to rip you off will know what to do and won't charge much. If they attempt to, move on!!

[rippie]

My wife and i had to flee the big island a couple years ago because a man from down the street broke in and raped her. We called the police they told us they couldnt question the man because he had a no tresspassing sign! I contacted an attorney that just a lie. A police officer conned my crying wife into signing what he said was just paperwork and that he was on charge of all sex crimes. Two months later we find out not only does that man not work with sex crimes what he had my crying wife sign was a paper saying she wouldnt prosecute! So we straightened that out. Shortly after that my brand new car blew up half way home from hilo! The insurance company did an investigation and said that the only possible way this happened was someone crawled under my car and screwed off the oil plug. He gave me a report to give the police. ARound this time we started waking up to people throwing rocks at our house in the middle of the night saying "WE are going to ****ing kill you"! When I called the officer out to get the car report he refused to take it and started to walk away! I screamed so Im gonna lose my house life everything because you wont arrest a rapist! And this was not a racial issue. My wife and I are both white. Mathew thomas the man who raped my wife is white ( in fact he has a big ass swastika tattoo on his chest, one he could only have gotten in prison) What my point is is that all places have rapists drug dealers, ect. But they actually have a police force. Those arent cops. They continued to lie to us repeatedly, and helped the rapist ruin my life. I had put a 100,000 dollars down on that house. That is where we were gonna have a family, now the relationship between my wife and i is terrible where it was wonderful before. The cops out there are the criminals because they have the power to stop these crimes but dont. Where do you think all the ice comes from (try driving by the cops mansions) I will never go back to that evil place. Actually the place is good the system is rotten from the inside the cops do anything they want(like lie to and abuse rape victims. Im just angry because i lost my whole life becacause those cops lied over and over refused to help us. Now I am a month from homeless. Oh and did i mention that the day i left the island (I hid in a hotel for ten days to arrange my return to oahu) That very night i get a call from my insurace company saying there had been a break in and everything was gone 58 inch tv, all the furniture, i no longer have a picture of my mother **** THE COPS ON HAWAII YOU ARE ALL CRIMINALS AND YOU LIVE OFF THE MISERY OF "HAOLES" YOU ARE THE ****ERS WITH NO SOUL IVE NEVER MET MEANER PEOPLE IN MY LIFE! You would say all this and more if you had any idea what our family has been through.......

[WindRide]

Originally Posted by kani-lehua

joyce lee's letter to the editor of today's star bulletin asks, "can hawai'i still call itself the aloha state?" apparently, her father's friends, a pastor and his family, left their backpack containing all their important documents, wallet, cash and digital camera in the car while they left and went to go and eat somewhere at ala moana center. guess what happened? everything was stolen. hello?! crime is everywhere!

Wow. I guess that pastor was from la la land. Every single guidebook I have ever read about Hawaii warns you about leaving ANY valuables in your car anywhere. It's just common sense.

Crime is everywhere, but so is stupidity.

It is sad that we live in a world where we have to lock up our possessions and that there are people who think that it is OK to take someone else's things, but that is reality and denying it will only make you poorer.

[carmel123]

rippie:

Your post breaks my heart. I am very sorry for you and your wife. I wish you both the best, try to heal. I wish you both the best of luck. It might be helpful to others if you tell us what neighborhood you lived in, so that others can be prepared.