More than 30 burglaries in Kona in September

The Kona area was hammered with burglaries throughout the month of September, police reported Friday.

An overview of reported incidents showed several clusters of burglaries.

The property taken from the homes on Alii Drive varied widely. It included a laptop and checkbook, three TVs and a quilt, purses, and sunglasses and their case from a van. In two cases, the burglary happened by entering through a lanai door.

A burglary of a business on the 81-6500 block of Hawaii Belt Road included taking food out of a refrigerator, police said.

There were 33 burglaries in Kona in one month, with 13 of those occurring just along Alii drive.

Many of the burglaries were to condominium units, where intruders entered through unlocked sliding glass doors, police said.

In an attempt to deter more burglaries, police issued a list of prevention tips advising residents to lock doors and windows when leaving a property; against leaving notes or posting on social media about not being home or a time of return; to become familiar with neighbors and their vehicles; and to be aware of strangers knocking on doors checking to see homes are not occupied.

Police also advised maintaining properties to reduce its attractiveness to burglars, such as keeping it well lit and trimming bushes and shrubs to reduce cover.

Police urge the public to report any suspicious activity by calling the Hawaii Police Department’s no-emergency line at 935-3311 or by calling 911 if they see evidence of a burglary in progress. These calls can come after a resident believes their home may have been targeted.

People who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.