Thieves reportedly broke into a locked storage shed at Isaac Kepookalani Hale Beach Park early Monday and stole Hawaii Fire Department equipment, including a Polaris off-road vehicle used to launch the park’s rescue water craft.
The theft occurred around 5 a.m., and a security guard just coming on-duty witnessed two men escaping on the Polaris 500 utility vehicle loaded with equipment, according to the Hawaii Fire Department.
The equipment included a Lifepack automated external defibrillator (AED), a Motorola portable radio, a rescue paddle board, a spinal immobilization board and 200 feet of heavy-duty rescue rope. The estimated value of the stolen equipment was $30,000.
The theft of the safety equipment takes away much-needed assets that assist the department’s Ocean Safety Officers (lifeguards) in performing water rescues.
“Because of this theft, the beach park and Puna district lost the service of the Rescue Water Craft — which is priceless in saving lives at one of the most dangerous shore breaks on the island,” Hawaii Fire Department Deputy Chief Lance Uchida said. “The Polaris was used to launch the Ski at the beach park, and without the Ski, we put our lifeguards in unneeded danger during water rescues.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Hawaii Police Department’s nonemergency number at 935-3311.