Burglary suspect charged
Police believe the man was to blame for multiple Mililani home thefts
Police believe they've captured the man who may be responsible for "a number" of the more than 85 burglaries that have been plaguing Mililani since November.
Marlan Galapon, a landscaper, was charged yesterday with first-degree attempted burglary after he allegedly tried to burglarize a home during his lunch break last week.
Burglary Detective Randall Borges said Galapon, 35, fits the description of a suspect witnesses had seen after several of the Mililani burglaries and police had been "seriously looking at him" in connection with the crimes before his arrest on Tuesday.
More charges could be filed against Galapon, he said.
Galapon lives in Mililani and works for a landscaping company that has accounts in the area.
A blue Mazda he drives, which belongs to his girlfriend's mother, is similar to a car seen near where several burglaries have occurred.
Borges also said that Galapon is "very unassuming" -- at 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds. He's often "dressed like a landscaper," so people don't suspect anything when he walked around neighbors' yards.
Borges said Galapon walked from a home whose landscaping he was working on during his lunch break to a nearby home in Mililani and rang the doorbell on Tuesday.
Someone was home at the time, but did not answer the door. When Galapon allegedly tried to break in through the garage door, the homeowner called police.
The homeowner then approached Galapon, who fled on foot, Borges said.
Police arrested Galapon at his Mililani home at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after he got home from work.
Borges said Galapon has been known to burglarize homes during the daytime, when residents are at work.
He is waiting to be sentenced on four other burglaries, two in Windward Oahu, one in Pearl City and one in Mililani. He was out on bail and was set to be sentenced on March 13.
In those burglaries, Galapon snuck through glass louvers and took jewelry and money. The recent Mililani burglaries also involved someone removing louvers to gain entry.
Galapon is expected to appear in District Court tomorrow and his new cash-only bail was set at $40,000.
