Residents can get
the jump on crime

A police service can help
isle residents stop property
theft before it happens

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By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

Honolulu police say residents can help them cut down on an islandwide increase in property crime by making a phone call to the IRS.

No, not the Internal Revenue Service, the Informational Resources Section. And they recommend people make the phone call before someone breaks into their homes.

The Honolulu Police Department division provides residential home security inspections, basically a 20-minute or less visit by police to see what homeowners or renters can do to keep their property from being stolen.

BY DAVID SWANN / DSWANN@STARBULLETIIN.COM Click image for larger version (278K).

"People can call up our office and we'll assign an officer and then they will arrange for a time to come to your home," said Sgt. Harry Donlin, with the Informational Resources Section. "All of them are veteran officers with at least six years of experience in the police department.

"It's a free service ... and we'll make sure you cover all your bases."

Honolulu police estimate that they recovered about 13 percent of all stolen property on Oahu last year. That comes out to $5.8 million out of the $43.3 million worth of jewelry, cars, electronic equipment and even some livestock stolen in 2001.

But with a few helpful hints, Donlin said that percentage could be better in the future.

One is a pretty mundane task: Start writing down the serial numbers of everything of value in the house that has one.

"If our narcotics guys raid a drug house and they recover 50 stolen VCRs, you having your serial number will help us get yours back," said Donlin. "It really does help."

Taking pictures of jewelry and other valuable items will help too.

Also, police say, trim those hedges. High hedges equal hiding places for burglars, they said.

"Some homes have 13- to 14-foot hedges," said Donlin. "But all that means is that once someone scales over the top, now they don't have to worry about a patrol car or neighbor seeing them break into your house with a screwdriver."

Another false sense of security? The second floor.

"People will lock everything downstairs but they'll leave their second story lanai open," Donlin said. "And if you leave your ladder outside the burglars will use your own tools to break in."

Besides residential inspections, IRS officers are also available to talk about personal security, though Donlin admits the answers are not quite as simple. That's because by the time someone notices they are in trouble, it's usually too late.

"Be aware of your surroundings, have your keys ready, check to see if someone's loitering in the parking lot next to your car," he said. "A lot of purse snatchings are in parking lots where surveillance is bad."

Donlin suggests that people turn around and go back into the supermarket if they feel uncomfortable about who's in the parking lot. Most stores have courtesy clerks or security guards who can escort people to their cars.

"We have to change that way of thinking, 'Oh I don't want to bother so and so,' " said Donlin. "It's different now."

IRS does not handle automobile safety talks though that information is available online through car insurance Web sites. Most are common sense hints such as not parking in an area that is isolated or has little foot or auto traffic, and locking car doors at home, even in the garage.

Also, car-owners should add their vehicle's identification number on their list of important serial numbers to keep. And to make sure an auto theft doesn't also lead to a burglary, try to keep house keys and car keys on different rings.

To sum it all up, Donlin asks that people think of property crime as a three part formula: Criminal + Opportunity + Victim = Crime.

"Unless you're a psychic, no one is going to be able to tell you that you're going to be the victim of a crime at this particular place and time ... but people can cut down on the opportunities available for crime.

"Take away the opportunity and the crime disappears."

Anyone wishing to make an appointment with IRS officers can call 529-3351.