Maui Police Offer Tips to Prevent Auto Theft

Maui Now graphic.

The Maui Police Department recorded 10 vehicle thefts over a seven day period ending Jan. 25, 2020. Over the past few months, the rate of vehicle thefts has ranged from as little as six to as many as 21 vehicle thefts in a given week.

Amid ongoing incidents, Maui police offered a few auto theft prevention tips (listed below):

• Remove your keys from the ignition and take them with you.
• Lock your vehicle.
• Never hide a second set of keys in your vehicle.
• Park in attended lots.
• If you use valet parking, leave only the ignition/door key.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Never leave your vehicle running, even if you will be gone for only a minute.
• Completely close all windows of parked vehicles.
• Do not leave valuables or paperwork in plain sight.
• Park with your wheels turned toward the curb to make your vehicle more difficult to tow.
• Back a rear-wheel-drive vehicle into your driveway to make it more difficult to tow.
• Set your emergency brake when parking your vehicle to make it more difficult to tow.
• If you have a garage, park your vehicle in it and lock it.
• Do not leave the title paperwork (“pink slip”) in your vehicle.

Hawaiʻi Revised Statues 708-836 Unauthorized control of propelled vehicle is defined as person who intentionally or knowingly exerts unauthorized control over another’s vehicle by operating the it without the owner’s consent or by changing the identity of the vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Of the 10 vehicle thefts reported from Jan. 19 to 25, six of the vehicles have been recovered.

Still missing from this past week are two recreation vehicles and two vehicles. The vehicles we’re a Black 1999 Ford Ranger, license number 342MDJ stolen in Kahului on Jan. 21; and a red 1998 Honda Civic, License number LBW443 stolen on Jan. 24 from Nāpili.