ROSEMARIE BERNARDO / RBERNARDO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Anthony Hooper, temporary branch manager at Wahiawa Public Library, looked at a cut chain yesterday that used to hold a steel gate closed. Sometime between 1:30 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, thieves broke into the library and stole computers and flat screen monitors.
Burglars hit
Wahiawa library
yet againFriends of the library are vexed
by the sixth break-in in a year
A burglar or burglars broke into the Wahiawa Public Library last weekend, the sixth break-in at the library over the past year.
"It's a terrible shame. The community is the one that suffers," said Beryl Goo, the library's former branch manager.
The burglary is believed to have occurred between 1:30 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday. Staff members said the burglar or burglars pried the back sliding door open and used box cutters to cut through a heavy-link chain wrapped around the lock of the iron gate at the library entrance.
Two screen monitors, three central processing units and a fax machine were stolen, said Anthony Hooper, the library's temporary branch manager.
The flat screens and central processing units each cost about $500 to $600. An office chair, a hand truck and miscellaneous items also were stolen, Hooper said.
Hooper, who recently transferred to Wahiawa from the Ewa Beach Public Library, said he had experienced similar problems at Ewa Beach "but nothing like this."
Paul Mark, informational specialist of the state's Library Development Services, said state library officials are working closely with the state Department of Accounting and General Services on security measures to prevent future break-ins.
"We will explore options, including the installation of an alarm system. In addition, we will be discussing this matter with the Board of Education," he said.
The rash of break-ins at the library started last August when someone removed a jalousie panel from the window. Money was stolen from the Friends of Wahiawa Public Library's cash box.
Between November and July, an estimated $10,500 in items -- including a DVD movie collection and computer monitors -- were stolen from the library, officials say.
Wahiawa police said a man who was earlier arrested for breaking into a Wahiawa business was identified through fingerprints as a suspect in a November library break-in.
Martha Hanson of the Friends of the Wahiawa Public Library said the group has offered money for a much-needed security system but the state has not accepted the offer.
"We need to figure out how to secure this library. Its an important part of this community," said Hanson. "It's maddening."
Bob Lormand of the Friends of the Wahiawa Public Library said burglars had broken into the library "in all different ways by smashing through windows or breaking louvers."
Iron-grilled mesh had been installed over most of the jalousie windows but burglars found a new way to break-in, Lormand said.
"It's only hurting the kids in the community," said library assistant Anna McCandless.
