The trunk of a Mustang sits open outside the damaged entrance to Hi-Tech Surf Sports in Kihei, where police arrested a 24-year-old man after an early-morning break-in. KIM BALL photo

The Maui News

Police arrested a 24-year-old Kihei man at the scene of a break-in that caused thousands of dollars in damages to Hi-Tech Surf Sports in Kihei early Sunday morning, according to police and the store’s owner.

At about 4:22 a.m., police received reports that a vehicle was seen backed up to the rear door of a business at 2021 S. Kihei Road and that someone was inside, police spokeswoman Alana Pico said Sunday afternoon. Officers were already en route to the location after the business’ alarm had been activated and arrived at 4:24 a.m. on the scene, where they spotted a vehicle parked and left with the engine running in the parking lot and a glass door smashed open.

Police located a man inside the store holding numerous items. Pico said the man “actively resisted” arrest attempts until he was subdued by officers and placed under arrest. He remains in police custody with charges pending, Pico said.

Hi-Tech Surf Sports owner Kim Ball said that the suspect broke the glass on the right door to gain entry. The left door still had plywood on it from a break-in on June 22. Both doors were recently replaced after a truck plowed through the store on Aug. 11.

The suspect stole all the skateboards on the rack, along with skateboard accessories, and loaded them into the trunk, Ball said. He then went back in, broke the glass on the Maui Jim sunglasses case and the Nixon watches case and loaded them into a trash can.

Ball said 46 pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses were recovered, but 25 were damaged when the suspect shattered the glass. There were also 20 watches recovered, with two damaged. With Maui Jims retailing for about $250 and the watches for about $150, he estimated the damages at about $6,500.

The damage to the store could also cost him about $9,000, he said, pointing out that the door was made of specially ordered glass. The suspect was caught on surveillance video using a 5-gallon paint bucket to try and break the door before using a rock to smash the glass.

Ball said that “after 40 years in business, this is the first time a suspect was apprehended during a burglary.” He hoped the store would recover all of the items after police went through the contents of the trunk.

Ball said he wasn’t sure if the two recent break-ins were related since the June 22 suspect was wearing a mask. Both appeared to be white males and both used a rock to break the door. The thief in the June 22 break-in only stole a skateboard but caused $3,000 in damages to the store, Ball said, adding that the store plans to take additional security measures.