LIHUE — A little precaution goes a long way in preventing your car from being broken into.
It wouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that automobile burglaries tend to happen more frequently when the number of visitors to the island increases. Nevertheless, being forewarned is one thing — yet any such incident will still ruin someone’s vacation.
“Most, if not all, car rental agencies have signage and warnings about not leaving valuables in your vehicle,” said Sue Kanoho, executive director, Kauai Visitors and Convention Bureau.
KVCB has a safety brochure for visitors in their Lihue office, at the Lihue airport, warning visitors about the potential for auto break-ins.
“We encourage properties, the condos and vacation rentals that have units on ground floors and open to the ocean, that they educate our visitors about being safe, locking up, not leaving the sliding glass door open, and especially, not put all their valuables in the trunk at the location,” Kanoho said. “We are in the 21st century and, unfortunately, we are not immune to crime, just like other popular destinations.”
Because the stats say that break-ins do happen.
The Kauai Police Department reported that from June through November, 269 crimes of unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle were reported— many of which resulted in the theft of items or the vehicle itself.
That’s up from previous years.
There were a total of 183 in 2011 and 194 in 2012, according to an estimate from the “Crime Map” feature on the KPD web site.
The map shows that auto burglaries occur at hotels, parks, beaches, residences and shopping area parking lots.
In the past six months the peak auto burglary period was June with 76, October with 73 and the remaining months trailed with September (47), July (38), August (38), and November (31).
“As a comparison, in October 2012 we had 25 and in November of 2012 we had 37,” said County Communications Director Beth Tokioka.
In the past six months the Lihue district had the most auto break-in incidents with 77. Koloa District No. 3 followed with 58, Kawaihau District No. 4 with 53, Hanalei District No. 5 with 45 and Waimea District No. 2 with 36.
The county would not report how many break-ins occurred at beaches and parks but the Crime Map feature did not show that any particular park or beach was more at-risk than another — however, burglaries and thefts reported were heaviest around the island from Kee beach to Polihale, as well as hotel parking lots and shopping centers.
It is common for visitors who experienced a burglary and theft to report the loss of cameras, laptops, smart phones, purses and other expensive travel items.
They are often taken from a beach area where they left unattended for a short time but also from vehicles parked in remote areas or large parking lots.
Kauai Police Department recommends:
• Not to leave valuables in the vehicle or trunk.
• Cover any items that must be left in the vehicle when shopping or dining out.
• Be cautious and aware of surroundings.
• Have car keys in hand and ready before walking to the car.
• Don’t leave keys in the ignition or in the vehicle.
Sergeant Roderick Green, a community relation’s officer with the Kauai Police Department, said the concept of security is enhanced when neighbors watch out for one another.
It is the neighbors who get a sense of when something is not right, such as when it appears that someone may be casing the area, or an unknown vehicle is driving back and forth — especially in a remote area, he said.
“We stress the importance of Neighborhood Watch and the importance of community,” Green said. “The worst thing someone can do is to assume that someone else will call. They need to take the initiative, make the call and alert the neighbors.”
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer can be reached at 245-0424 or tlaventure@ thegardenisland.com.
