Thwart Thieves on Your Hawaii Vacation With Crime Rising

This week, a subject not new to Hawaii returned to the limelight when police asked visitors (and residents) to look for suspicious activities at beaches, resorts, and local neighborhoods following a rash of car break-ins.

Oahu car crime: 650 reports in just one month.

For the month starting February 7, there were 650 reported car breaking (or thefts). Most were in and around Honolulu and Waikiki.

Big Island and Maui car break-ins are reported to be mounting, too.

Kauai Police Department said, “Subjects are targeting unsecured vehicles.

They are quietly going through neighborhoods and checking for unlocked vehicles for an easy opportunity to steal valuables.” And the issue isn’t just limited to one island.

How this rash of petty car crimes came to be.

We admit we have been guilty of leaving things in our unlocked cars. Editor Rob is known to leave his keys on the dashboard when parked on his driveway. Although we get the concept, the idea of locking cars still hasn’t struck us in rural Hawaii. But now, perhaps we’ll be more proactive.

The best dose of prevention for Hawaii visitors:

While some things here may seem apparent, it’s easy to get careless and think nothing will happen. At least that the case for us. You can’t imagine how often we see cars parked at Safeway, for example, with no driver, the motor running, and the keys in the ignition.

1. Turn off the motor when you exit your car. Even if it is hot and you are trying to leave the interior cool.
2. Remove the key from the ignition. We never did until years ago when this first became a widespread problem.
3. Lock your car doors when you exit.
4. Most importantly, do not leave things in sight within your rental or other vehicles. That seems to be the thing that will almost always cause a break-in in Hawaii. And it always has.
5. Don’t make the mistake of moving your valuables to the trunk while someone may be watching you do so. That makes common sense. Editor Jeff had a suitcase stolen from the trunk after moving it from the car interior in public view.
6. Park in places that are not hidden from view and are well-trafficked and lit.

Have you been the victim of Hawaii auto crime?