FIGHT 'ICE' - AND THEFT

Property crime is the biggest single type of crime facing West Hawaii
police, and our state overall suffers the distinction of leading the nation
in some per capita rates of theft and larceny.

The problem on this island, say police and prosecutors, stems from a single
underlying cause: Drugs.

"The reason we have so much property crime is an increase in crime related
to 'ice' (crystal methamphetamine) use," Kona Police Patrol Capt. John Dawrs
said. When officers arrest "ice" users, they usually find stolen property;
when officers search for stolen property, they usually find "ice" users,
Dawrs said.

In a three-day series of reports on property crime that concludes in today's
paper, it has been made clear by authorities: property crime and "ice" use
are increasing and the cost to our community - direct and indirect - is
staggering.

Aside from those directly affected by "ice" use, which offers up a
staggering toll of social implications, the community is being preyed upon
by addicts who steal and burglarize homes to support that addiction,
authorities reported.

There is a shocking lack of clear, meaningful statistics to support the
oft-repeated generalizations of "ice" use or its direct connection to
property crime, however, we believe the connection is valid.

The propensity of property crimes cuts deep into our community. Residents
fear burglary and invasion of the privacy of their homes, theft of their
vehicles and belongings.

Yet police are responding without compunction that they alone cannot combat
the problem. It just won't happen. There are not enough police and not
enough time. They are relying upon us - community members and more
importantly neighbors - to police our communities and be de facto eyes and
ears for law enforcement. Not to be vigilantes, but to be vigilant never the
less, to complement the efforts of law enforcement.

Looking out for and indeed caring about neighbors is a very a foundation of
neighborhoods and community. Police, though rarely viewed as such, are
community members empowered to enforce laws that were enacted by other
community members on behalf of themselves. We are looking after ourselves,
after all.

Neighborhood Watch programs, touted by police, community members and
prosecutors as an effective mechanism for improving self-protection and
vigilance, should be welcomed and instituted, not as a means of establishing
any "police state," but rather to do the right thing: Protect homes,
families and ultimately the values we cherish.

Ask anyone victimized by a burglary, their response is similar - a feeling
of violation. We cannot and should not tread lightly on these transgressions
of our personal rights. They target our homes, possessions, visitors and
businesses.

Police, supported by our county government with appropriate and adequate
resources, should be encouraged to wage what Mayor Harry Kim more than a
year ago termed a "war on 'ice.'" Those efforts should be reflected by drops
in the property crime rate associated with "ice" use. It should also be
buttressed by a hard line taken by prosecutors and the courts on offenders,
on those who invade our homes and privacy, who disregard the laws enacted by
society to ensure our safety, liberty and privacy.

Yet those results remain elusive, despite the mayor's war cry, despite their
clear importance and necessity.

We fear that "war on 'ice'" is being lost to bureaucrats and excuses, and
our community is the casualty.

No one on this island should accept that defeat.