Big Island police have charged two Kona men with several offenses after being found in a stolen boat.
On Thursday afternoon, a 42-year-old Kailua-Kona man reported his outboard motor had been stolen from his boat while it was tied to the Kailua pier. Later that day, Kona Patrol officers responded to the pier, where the victim had found two men using his motor on an aluminum skiff. Investigation revealed the boat also had been stolen in an unrelated incident, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
The occupants of the skiff, 22-year-old Michael James McCrum of Kailua-Kona and 19-year-old Isaac Carl Akina of Kailua-Kona, were arrested and taken to the Kona police cellblock while Area II Criminal Investigations Section detectives continued the investigation.
Detectives learned the owner of the skiff had reported an unrelated burglary at his home at Weil Weli Beach on Aug. 3. Unknown people had broken into two dwellings, stolen various items and damaged property.
Police were able to link the suspects to all three incidents.
Friday afternoon, detectives charged McCrum with burglary, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and three counts of theft. His bail was set at $47,000. Akina was charged with burglary, criminal property damage and two counts of theft. His bail was set at $9,500. Both men remained at the cellblock until their initial court appearance on Monday.