Two brazen burglaries in less than 48 hours at the Dixson 76 on Hualalai Road has owner Bob Dixson requesting the public’s help locating the culprits. ADVERTISING Two brazen burglaries in less than 48 hours at the Dixson 76 on
Two brazen burglaries in less than 48 hours at the Dixson 76 on Hualalai Road has owner Bob Dixson requesting the public’s help locating the culprits.
Around 4:15 a.m. Monday, surveillance video shows two men with shirts covering their faces used rocks to break the glass of the front door leading to the cashier and snack shop at the Kailua-Kona gas station. After entering the shop, the men proceeded to remove dozens of packs of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, a donation jar for the Three Ring Ranch animal sanctuary, as well as snacks and drinks before exiting the store through the broken door, Dixson said.
After replacing the door’s broken glass on Monday — which cost nearly $800 — it appears the same men returned shortly before 2:15 a.m. Wednesday to ransack the shop again.
Surveillance video provided by Dixson, which he said police have also recovered in addition to fingerprints, shows two men entering the gas station from Hualalai Road, circling one of the north gas pumps and looking around before committing the break-in by throwing rocks multiple times at the door.
The two culprits can then be seen in the video crawling through the broken glass door to enter the shop where they removed dozens more packs of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, lighters and snacks. Because no money is left in the till at night, the culprits did not make away with cash, Dixson said.
“They have no fear,” Dixson told West Hawaii Today early Wednesday noting that the suspects never entered the station’s automotive shop in either break-in. “I’m pretty certain it’s the same ones.”
Dixson seemed disconcerted that while the men were throwing the rocks through the front door on Wednesday, a person can clearly be seen in the surveillance video walking on the sidewalk along Hualalai Road near the gas station, however, that person did not stop.
“What gets me is if you see something do something,” Dixson said. “We’re all in this deal together, if you see something call police.”
He added, “this is one week with the most crime I’ve seen in a little while.” Dixson said a reward may be offered if someone comes forth with information on the suspects.
Hawaii Police Department Kona Patrol Capt. Randal Ishii confirmed officers are investigating the Dixson break-ins. He also said that another business, located on Palani Road and within the downtown area, was burglarized around 1:35 a.m. on Tuesday. In the incident, he said, the suspects used rocks to gain entry to the establishment before taking currency.
As a reminder, he said, businesses should make sure doors and windows are locked and not keep large amounts of cash in the establishment. He also noted that people should go at different times when making bank deposits.
The burglaries at the Dixson 76 came within two weeks of the business being “tagged” on its southern roll-up garage door, he said. Dixson said he does not believe the graffiti is related to the burglaries and added that police may know who may have committed that offense.
Dixson has operated the Hualalai Road gas station for about 14 years. He currently employs 11 people. It has been open since about the 1950s.
Anyone with information on the break-ins should call the police department at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
