Thieves use our technology against us.

Here are some things you may not have thought of. 

The policy report that most car breakins are of the smash and grab variety.  You leave something of value in plain sight in your car.  The thief smashes a window, grabs the item and is gone.

Obvious solution, don't leave valuables in your car.  But have you heard about how some smart thieves are using you technology against you?

1. LONG-TERM PARKING

Some people left their car in the long-term parking at San Jose while away, and someone broke into the car.  Using the information on the car's registration in the glove compartment, they drove the car to the people's home in Pebble Beach and robbed it.  So I guess if we are going to leave the car in long-term parking, we should NOT leave the registration/insurance cards in it, nor your remote garage door opener.  This gives us something to think about with all our new electronic technology.

2. GPS:

Someone had their car broken into while they were at a football game.  Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans.  Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.  When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.  The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house.  They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house.  The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house.  It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.  Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it.  Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.

3. CELL PHONES:

I never thought of this!  This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her cell phone after her handbag was stolen.  Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet, etc., was stolen. Twenty minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says, "I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago."  When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn.  The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text "hubby" in the contact list and got hold of the pin number.  Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Moral of the lesson:

a. Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.  Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc.

b. And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

c. Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them.  If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet "family and friends" who text you.

4. PURSE IN THE GROCERY CART SCAM: 

A lady went grocery-shopping at a local mall and left her purse sitting in the children's seat of the cart while she reached something off a shelf/ Wait till you read the WHOLE story!  Her wallet was stolen, and she reported it to the store personnel.  After returning home, she received a phone call from the Mall Security to say that they had her wallet and that although there was no money in it, it did still hold her personal papers.  She immediately went to pick up her wallet, only to be told by Mall Security that they had not called her.  By the time she returned home again, her house had been broken into and burglarized.  The thieves knew that by calling and saying they were Mall Security, they could lure her out of her house long enough for them to burglarize it.

Moral: carry you purse under your arm not in your shopping cart.

*PLEASE PASS THIS ON

Even if this does not pertain to you, please let your family and friends know so they don't get caught in a scam.

Board of Water Supply Scam Alert

HONOLULU – The Board of Water Supply (BWS) would like to alert the public about reports of individuals claiming to be BWS employees in order to gain access to private property. The individuals are reportedly wearing green t-shirts that resemble BWS employee attire and have been asking residents to allow them in their homes. The BWS would like to inform the public that all personnel involved in official BWS activities will be properly credentialed, wearing official BWS attire with the BWS logo, driving BWS labeled vehicles, and carrying an official City and County of Honolulu badge with the agency identified as the BWS. Residents are encouraged to call the Honolulu Police Department at 9-1-1 if they observe any suspicious activity. The community may also call the BWS Communications Office at 748-5041 to file an additional report.

New Crime Mapping information

Where are car thefts and break-ins, robberies and grafitti happening in your neighborhoods.  Keep informed about crime in your neighborhoods.

Check it out  http://www.crimemapping.com/

A threat to all of us.

KITV on escapes from Windward State Hospital

http://www.kitv.com/video/24753182/index.html?taf=hon

The Kaneohe Neighborhood Board has been attempting to get answers.  Why are dangerous prisoners be allowed to take excursions where a single supervisor has now power to keep them from walking away?  We have been basically stone walled for over two years.  Basic measures to increase security or to even require the Windward State Hospital security plan are vetoed by Gov. Lingle.

Something is wrong, and no one is willing to even look at how it might be fixed.  Caring for patients at the Hospital is a dangerous job.  I have asked several caretakers if it is as bad as the media makes it out to be.  The universal answer is, "The public doesn't know how bad it is."

We need an independent audit of the State Hospital by people with the authority to investigate problems and make recommendations.  Then we need legislative support to correct the problems.  The only way we get the problem solved is when you get involved.

Hawaii State Hospital Security

The Kaneohe Neighborhood Board cannot take action on this resolution until our 2/18 meeting at the Kaneohe Senior Center. However, every reader of this blog is encouraged to send this resolution as testimony in support of current legislation, SB2919

Its easy. Click here and click on submit testimony in the second block down. Follow instructions. Copy this reso to your clip board and paste it where the instructions ask for testimony.

RESOLUTION TO URGE THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES FOR ADEQUETE AND PROPERLY TRAINED AND EQUIPPED SECURITY PERSONNEL AND PROTOCOLS THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Hospital houses patients who need to be kept in a secured facility for their own protection and for the safety of others; and

WHEREAS, some patients have been referred to that facility by the court system as a result of the danger posed to themselves and to others due to their psychological condition; and,

WHEREAS, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 is concerned that security personnel at the Hawaii State Hospital may lack the expertise and training necessary to ensure that the Hawaii State Hospital is a safe and secure facility; and

WHEREAS, recent escapes and assaults on staff have raised community concerns of the potential safety and security issues; and

WHEREAS, The Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 is committed to ensuring the safety of all residents.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 strongly urges the Hawaii State Legislature to adopt legislation that would provide for and ensures adequate and properly trained and equipped security personnel and protocols, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Honorable Wil Espero, Chair, Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, the Honorable David Ige, Chair Senate Health Committee, the Honorable Donna Mercado Kim, Chair Senate Ways and Mean Committee, the Honorable Jill Tokuda, Senator 24th District, the Honorable Clayton Hee, Senator 23rd District, the Honorable Pono Chong, State Representative 49th House District, the Honorable Ken Ito, State Representative 48th House District.

Murderer Escapes from State Hospital

A man who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital this morning is still on the run tonight.

Hospital staff reported that patient Casey Nies, also known as Casey Machado, was missing at 9:30am.

The 36-year old man was acquitted of attempted murder by reason of insanity in 2003.

Nies weighs 177 pounds and is 5-feet-11 inches tall.
Anyone who sees him should call police.
The Hawaii State hospital is not a secure facility, despite caring for many court appointed patients with violent pasts.

With the way the economy is right now, it doesn't appear any major improvements will be made to the Hawaii State Hospital any time soon.
"Unfortunately, unless there's a secure facility built, escapes like this will continue to occur," said Sen. Clayton Hee, (D) Kaneohe, Kahuku.

Escapes like the one that happened Monday morning.

"The neighboring community is always concerned because escapes impact them immediately. The reality suggests that the escapees move to other areas but that doesn't lessen the anxiety," said Hee.

The latest escapee from the state psychiatric hospital in Kaneohe was acquitted of attempted murder by reason of insanity in a 2003 Maui case.
According to a Star-Bulletin article, police said that Casey Nies cut someone's face with a samurai sword, then tried to attack a Maui police officer.
For years, Senator Hee has been pushing for the state to build a new secure facility at the Hawaii State Hospital.

"That fell on deaf ears unfortunately," said Hee.
The Hawaii State Hospital doesn't have the resources to be a prison, yet majority of its patients are court-ordered.

Patients like Adam Mau-Goffredo, the man accused of murdering three people on Tantalus.

"To me, that was the end of it, that we needed to try to do something about creating a more secure facility within the hospital grounds," said Hee.

But with the state of the economy the way it is, Senator Hee says that a new secure facility is an even lower priority now.

"Unfortunately with this kind of economy, the mentally ill will fall way behind. The sad reality is unless there's a secure facility built on the grounds these kinds of escapes will continue to occur," said Hee.

In addition, just like other state-run facilities, the Hawaii State Hospital may face budget cuts.

FYI/Safety Alert:

Yesterday I saw ran into a beat-partner of mine from HPD, and he related the following case:

On Saturday, September 27, 2008, a young woman was done shopping at Costco's Waipio at approximately 5:30 pm, and was walking to her car (alone) parked near the Tire Area. When a Toyota Camry (Gold Colored with Tint, License Plate: NZA 703) drove up next to her shopping cart and the male suspect reached out to grab her purse. There was a struggle before the suspect got away with her bag. He hit a parked car as well as driving on the curb. The car was not stolen and police have arrested the suspect.

As we get ready for the Holiday Season, please be mindful of the following; Ladies please be aware when shopping alone, because many of you walk around with "blinders" on. Observe the area and plan your defense if needed. A good recommendation is to secure your purse to the shopping cart with the toddler’s safety belt. Wrap it around the strap of your purse a couple of times and click it. If anyone walking or driving by grabs your purse, they are now taking your shopping cart too. Don’t be easy prey!!!!

You may forward this message….

Dean K. K. Harvest, I

Public Relations Assistant

Neighborhood Commission

Honolulu Hale

530 South King Street #406

Honolulu, O‘ahu, HI 96813

808-768-3781 office

808-768-3711 fax

808-234-8886 cell

dharvest@honolulu.gov





“Ua lēhulēhu a manomano ka ‘ikena ā ka Hawai‘i”.

(Great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiian)

Armed Robbery at Kaneohe Bus Stop Reported

Police are investigating a robbery report from a woman who said she was robbed April 12 at the Kamehameha Highway bus stop by Meli Place (near Kaneohe Elderly Apartments). She told police two men approached her and one pulled a handgun and demanded her possessions. She turned over her handbag, and the men fled the area. See, Bus Stop Robbery

Do you think violent crime is increasing in Kaneohe?