Two Ewa Gentry families say a masked intruder broke into their homes weeks apart, made off with thousands of dollars in jewelry and sentimental keepsakes, and left them wondering whether a serial burglar is working their neighborhood. Both households filed police reports and say the physical description they gave investigators matches almost exactly, even though the Honolulu Police Department says it has found no evidence tying the two break-ins together.
The first burglary happened on August 8, according to Hawaii News Now, with the intruder reportedly spending about 30 minutes inside the home. The second home, which sits near the first house, had already been broken into roughly a month before that first incident, according to the outlet's reporting by Kyle Chinen. In both cases, the person responsible allegedly picked through belongings, taking specific items of value while leaving others untouched, and made off with similar styles of jewelry from each residence.
Same Mask, Same Gloves, Victims Say
Both victims separately described the alleged burglar to police as a man wearing long pants, a hoodie, what appeared to be a homemade ski mask, and white gloves, carrying a flashlight as he moved through their homes. That matching description is at the center of why both families believe they were targeted by the same person, even though the second family was not home when their break-in occurred. One anonymous resident told Hawaii News Now the burglary left them feeling vulnerable and unsafe, adding that they had grown relaxed about locking up because a break-in never felt like a real possibility in their neighborhood.
The first family does not believe their burglary was an isolated event, and both households have been working with authorities as the investigation continues. In a written statement to Hawaii News Now, the Honolulu Police Department confirmed officers are actively investigating the cases, but the department also said there is currently no indication the two burglaries are connected. Police said no further details would be released while the investigation remains open.
Neighbors Turn to Crowdsourced Tip Network
Frustrated by the pace of the official process, the victims have posted about the burglaries on social media in hopes that the community can help identify the person responsible. Both families pointed to Stolen Stuff Hawaii, an anonymous tip site, as one avenue they've used to spread the word and appeal for information. The group was founded in 2014 by Michael Kitchens as a grassroots effort to help residents track stolen property, according to Honolulu Civil Beat, and it has since grown into Hawaii's largest online anti-crime network, with more than 132,000 vetted members spanning Oahu and neighboring islands, per testimony submitted to the Office of the Public Defender State of Hawaii.
Kitchens said enough public pressure might convince the person responsible to come forward and do the right thing. The victims, for their part, are asking that whoever took their belongings simply return them, and they say they hope raising awareness will keep the same thing from happening to another family in the neighborhood.
West Oahu's Property Crime Backdrop
The break-ins happened in Ewa Gentry, part of the sprawling Ewa by Gentry development that transformed former sugarcane land into a 1,300-acre master-planned community with roughly 9,100 homes across West Oahu, according to records from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting. The neighborhood is home to an estimated 26,600 residents as of 2024, per Data USA, and falls under the Honolulu Police Department's District 8, which covers Ewa, Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo and Waianae out of the Kapolei Police Station.
Statewide, property crime remains a persistent issue: Hawaii's property crime rate stood at 1,946.8 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2024, about 10.6% higher than the national average, according to federal UCR data compiled by USAFacts. Locally, monthly crime figures have fluctuated; overall reported crime in District 8 rose 3.9% from June to July, even as total reported offenses in Ewa Beach dropped by 19 incidents over that same span, per neighborhood watch updates. It's the latest concern for a stretch of West Oahu that has seen other high-profile police activity this month, including a Vice Division raid that seized 39 illegal gambling machines from a warehouse on Old Fort Weaver Road.
Legal Stakes and How to Report Tips
Under Hawaii law, entering or remaining unlawfully in a home with intent to commit a property crime qualifies as Burglary in the First Degree, a Class B felony under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 708-810. A conviction on that charge carries a maximum prison term of up to 10 years under HRS § 706-660. Anyone with information can contact CrimeStoppers Honolulu at 808-955-8300, where anonymous tips leading to an arrest, suspect identification or recovered property can earn a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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