Police are warning South Kohala residents to take extra precautions after an increase in burglaries last month.
Lt. William Souther said the district recorded 10 burglaries in July, nine at homes and one at a business, a slight increase over normal numbers. The thieves aren’t looking for any particular item, but are taking whatever they find available.
In Waimea, he added, that has included vehicles with the keys left inside.
“We would like to strongly encourage people to lock their vehicles, keep their houses locked up,” Souther said Wednesday.
The department doesn’t have descriptions of the burglars, but Souther asked residents to watch for suspicious people and vehicles in their neighborhoods.
In Puako, burglars entered a home while residents were there, Souther said. The burglars did not confront the residents in that incident, nor during any of the other burglaries, he added.
Property manager Derek Cabison was one of the people to report a recent burglary, for a property he watches in Waimea.
“Waimea is known as God’s country,” Cabison said. “You tend to relax. A lot of people leave their keys in the car.”
Another of his former clients told him someone walked up her long driveway and stole a vehicle from the garage on the back side of her home. Souther said that vehicle was recovered within a few days of the theft.
Cabison said a number of people he spoke with in South Kohala were concerned about the burglaries. He spoke with the police and decided to reach out to the community to spread information about the situation.
“We need to help the Police Department catch these people,” Cabison said.