Police were one step closer to napping a man posing as a rental agent for Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto but neighbors trying to be helpful foiled their stakeout yesterday, police said. Good Samaritans disrupt
attempt to nail scammerBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com"Although (the stakeout) didn't go down as planned, we're encouraged that the neighbors intervened to prevent a crime," said Det. Letha DeCaires, Honolulu Police Department CrimeStoppers coordinator.
DeCaires said police set up a stakeout yesterday at a vacant Hawaii Kai home owned by Kawamoto that had been used in recent rental scam.
Police issued a CrimeStoppers alert Monday warning people of a man calling himself Jeff Lansford and posing as a real estate agent. The man met prospective renters, showed them the property and asked for cash as part of the first month's rent.
A couple, aware of the scam from news reports, tipped off police about their arrangement to meet with a man claiming to be the rental agent for the house at 522 Kaumakani St., De Caires said.
However, concerned neighbors, unaware of the stakeout, came outside to warn the couple when a man arrived, and that scared him away, DeCaires said.
The man drove away in a car, which police later found abandoned a few blocks away. Police said the car was stolen and may provide further clues to the identity of the suspect.
DeCaires said she had spoken to three families who met with the alleged rental agent. They filled out applications but did not give any money.
The neighbors, who have been vigilant in watching the house since learning of the scam, helped police find a prospective renter who lost $1,200, DeCaires said.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call 955-8300 or *CRIME. He is 5 feet 6 inches to 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, with brown curly hair, olive complexion and facial hair stubble. He had been driving a 1993 white Ford Explorer with license plates EWE 468.
Honolulu Police Department