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DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
A sign posted at the entrance to Honolulu Memorial Park cautions visitors about recent auto break-ins.




Thieves staking out
cemeteries in Nuuanu

Criminals have broken into cars
to steal purses and valuables


By Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.com

Nuuanu-area cemeteries are warning people visiting the graves of loved ones that thieves have been breaking into cars and stealing purses and other valuables.

"I think they are the lowest people," said Sally Porter, 80, who was recently visiting her parents' grave at Honolulu Memorial Park. "Why would they do such a thing?"

Honolulu Memorial Park put up a warning sign last year after a rash of thefts beginning in the fall. The thefts stopped in December, but there were two more incidents last month, said Elizabeth Brown, administrative assistant at the cemetery.

"We recommend people lock their doors and windows and don't leave any purses in the front seat," Brown said.

"Often it's these older people that get ripped off. Everything is gone," she said.

Most incidents involved someone breaking a car window to steal valuables in the car.

But in one case Brown said a woman left her purse next to the grave and went to fill a vase with water and when she returned the purse was gone.

Thefts have also occurred at Oahu Cemetery across the street.

"We used to have them once in a long while; now it seems to be a pretty ongoing thing," said Hal Lewis, superintendent at Oahu Cemetery.

One of the most recent thefts occurred on Memorial Day.

Doreen Miyamoto said she was visiting the graves of family members at Oahu Cemetery when she heard a woman screaming.

"She was yelling 'cause I guess she was just trying to find somebody that could help."

Miyamoto said the woman's car window had been broken and the thieves apparently took valuables from the front seat.

"I just thought it was really terrible," she said. "I guess I didn't think that those kinds of things happen, especially on Memorial Day."

Miyamoto said the cemetery was crowded, but the thefts happened so quickly that no one saw them occur.

CrimeStoppers coordinator Detective Letha DeCaires says thieves like to strike on holidays in areas where there are a lot of people because witnesses are less likely to notice something happening in a crowd.

After the thefts on Memorial Day weekend, police increased patrols in the area, but so far they have no leads on the crimes. They're asking anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Jim Watson, 56, taking his wife to visit her parents' grave at Honolulu Memorial Park, said normally you don't think about theft at a cemetery.

"But if you think about what's happening in the world today, nothing is sacred."



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