KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii County officials hope to heighten security with surveillance cameras at baseyards around the island in light of continued thefts.
Cost for a surveillance system will go out to bid on Oct. 26 for eight of the 13 public works baseyards, more than three weeks after the latest burglary at the automotive division in Kealakekua where two vehicles were stolen and later found torched in Honaunau.
“Theft from baseyards has been an ongoing problem,” said Barett Otani, information and education specialist for the Department of Public Works. “Before they were taking parts and gas, now they’re taking the vehicles.”
The vehicles stolen from the automotive division on Oct. 9 were a white 2008 Honda Civic and white 2006 Jeep Liberty. Hawaii Police Maj. Robert Wagner said the cars were behind a locked gate with the keys in the ignition. However, Otani said the keys were not in the ignition.
The culprits damaged the entry/exit gate upon leaving the scene. There are no leads or suspects at this time.
Otani said the department has hired security guards for the automotive division since the break-in. They hope the overnight security will be a deterrent for now.
Several county vehicles have been stolen in the past. Most recently, a Hele-On bus was taken from the Mass Transit Agency baseyard on Aug. 5; another bus was taken on Aug. 28. The same suspect, Kawelo Nakamura, was arrested after both incidents. In the first incident, the suspect hit another person’s vehicle. In the Aug. 28 incident, the baseyard lock was broken and the bus was later found abandoned and damaged. The buses can be started by button once someone is aboard.
In April, a county truck was stolen from the Mass Transit Agency baseyard on East Lanikaula Street in Hilo and ended up torched a few days later in a remote area of Puna.
An arrest was made in that theft, as well.
While surveillance cameras are already installed at the transit baseyards, guards were hired to cover security overnight in reaction to the stolen buses.
Otani said the surveillance system would cover the Public Works baseyards that house the county’s most heavy machinery and equipment as well as its fleet of vehicles.
Allen Gomes, lead carpenter, has a space at the automotive division where the cars were stolen earlier this month. On Thursday, he said the vehicles were found torched on Oct. 12 in the Honaunau area right next to each other.
Along with the vehicles, the culprits took miscellaneous tools valued at about $1,000.
“They could’ve taken a whole lot more,” Gomes said.
Neil Azevedo, Highways Division chief, said they had problems at the Puna highway baseyard two years ago where a car and gas were stolen.
They rectified the situation by double-locking the gate with a chain, as well as locking all car keys in a separate place and locking vehicle doors.
As the county continues its efforts to fight crime off the baseyards, they’re asking communities for their support in looking for and reporting suspicious activity.
“They’re not only stealing from the county, they’re stealing from the community,” Otani said. “We need to be vigilant.”
Anyone with information regarding the thefts at the automotive division should call the Hawaii Police Department at 935-3311.