Kailua burglar has
eye out for unlocked doors
A burglar has struck four Kailua homes since last week by walking through unlocked doors, police said.
Police said they believe the suspect is going from house to house early in the morning trying to find an unlocked door.
"For him it's a hit-or-miss opportunity," acting Lt. John McCarthy said. "A couple of them were front doors; two of them were in the garage which lead to the house."
McCarthy said the suspect takes purses, backpacks, laptops -- anything that is left by the door -- then he leaves. But in one case, the suspect went downstairs and searched the house while someone in the house was watching television, McCarthy said.
"The kids thought it was Dad walking around at 2 a.m., so they didn't think anything of it," McCarthy said. "He took a purse and left."
The latest case took place on Auauki Street at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday. Police said a 19-year-old male who lives in the house came home and found a gray van with its engine running parked in the driveway.
Police said as the teen was walking into the house, the suspect walked out. The two men got into a struggle with the resident trying to detain the suspect for police. Eventually the suspect got away and drove off in the van, dropping a knife from the victim's kitchen.
"This could have been much worse," said McCarthy. "If people find themselves in a similar situation, they should let the guy leave, but get a good description of the suspect and take the license plate number down.
"If he got stabbed, no one would have found him until daylight. ... We're trying to avoid a major tragedy here."
All the break-ins happened between June 22 and Tuesday, and between 1 and 3 a.m. The suspect is described as in his early 30s, 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 160 pounds, with a slim muscular build, shaved black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a green T-shirt. His vehicle was described as a gray "squarish-type" van with a broken left rear tail light.
Anyone with information may call McCarthy at 261-7405. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or by dialing *CRIME on a cellular phone.
