Police are reminding the community to keep valuables out of their cars after a rise in vehicle break-ins this summer.
Police are reminding the community to keep valuables out of their cars after a rise in vehicle break-ins this summer.
Rainbow Falls State Park has been the site of many of the reports.
“There has been an increase (there),” Lt. Darren Horio, a community policing officer, said Friday. “There were four to five reports this past month, which is higher than normal.”
Hilo resident David DeCleene, who works out at the Hilo High School track and drives past Rainbow Falls on his way home, said he had taken note of the increase to the point that he now does his post-run stretching at the park in order to keep a watchful eye on the cars.
DeCleene said he works out at the same time every evening, and has driven by the scene three times this summer.
“In one case, I was the first guy there, and the couple was walking around forlorn,” he said. “I called the police and waited with them.”
Still, Horio said police have not been able to identify any trends other than a general increase. The break-ins have been reported for both rental cars and resident cars, at different times of day, and at multiple sites, including Honolii and the Keaukaha area.
“It’s sporadic,” Horio said. “One over here, one over here. We try to track that, but we haven’t been able to identify a trend.”
The Onomea Bay Scenic Drive also has seen an uptick in reported break-ins, he said.
Though tourists are often the victims, Horio said the crime wasn’t necessarily aimed at that group.
“I think more of it has to do with the location as opposed to who’s doing what there,” he said.
Horio said that officers are working with personnel from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to address the Rainbow Falls break-ins, and that one solution the DLNR was looking into was putting up signs reminding visitors to not leave valuables in their cars.
A DLNR representative could not be reached for comment by press time.
“I would say the best thing is to keep valuables out of sight, to take backpacks or purses with you,” Horio said. “Even if they break into the car, they get nothing. At least you have your items.”
The Police Department also is trying to boost patrol presence at the sites.
“We track all of the locations, and any time we see an increase (in break-ins), we send people there,” Horio said.
Particularly frustrating, however, is that often the crimes are committed by repeat offenders. The police are aware that there are groups who repeatedly target cars, but Horio said it’s hard to constantly track their activity.
“The same people — we arrest them, they go to jail, they get out, and do it again,” he said.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.