Recent crime wave prompts Kauai to take action

Kauai officials, businesses and community leaders are taking a stand against criminals after a recent rash of major crimes.

Randy Francisco, president and chief executive officer of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, said in a recent Kauai news briefing that the community will not sit back and let the spree continue.

Francisco, a member of the Kauai Police Commission, said the groups are organizing a public awareness campaign and plan to hold crime prevention workshops throughout the island in the spring and summer for residents and businesses.

Since December, several notable crimes, including an attempted murder, have occurred on Kauai.

Police Chief Darryl Perry said there hasn’t been a spike in crimes in recent weeks and that the crimes occurred in a short period of time. He assured the public that Kauai is still the safest county in the state.

Recent major crimes:

» A 31-year-old Japanese visitor was thrown from a cliff in Kalalau. She was transported to Wilcox Memorial Hospital in critical condition and remained there for almost two weeks before she was released.

» Laptops and other equipment from Kapaa Elementary School were stolen sometime between Dec. 28 and Jan. 3. Thieves took electronics worth an estimated $20,000 from a classroom — 12 laptops, 20 black Kindles, a projector and several video and digital cameras. There were no signs of forced entry. However, the front doors of two metal cabinets where the items were stored were bent and pried open.

It was the second theft at the school in six months after thieves stole items from the same classroom during the summer.

"I don’t understand why people want to steal from kids," said Principal Jason Kuloloia.

Security plates were recently installed over the affected classroom door’s lock. Kapaa Elementary plans to get five other classroom doors retrofitted with the same security plates.

Asked what he would say to the thieves, Kuloloia said: "If they need money, do what everybody else does, get a job. Don’t take from the kids."

» Thieves also stole a red Honda all-terrain vehicle used by lifeguards from a storage room near the Kealia Beach lifeguard tower sometime between 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. Police recovered the vehicle in Anahola near the Flat Track dirt bike trail.

This was the fourth break-in at a county lifeguard tower in the past few weeks.

Two days after Christmas, thieves allegedly vandalized the Lydgate tower. A week later, suspects broke into the Anahola Beach lifeguard tower and took a portable radio and a pair of binoculars. The estimated value of the stolen items is more than $5,000.

And on Jan. 8, swim fins and other items were stolen from the Kealia tower.

Fire Chief Robert Westerman could not be reached for comment on the recent thefts. Perry said the thefts can have terrible consequences because the stolen equipment is needed by lifeguards when they conduct rescues.