Trending
WAILUKU -- A woman was arrested Saturday night after she allegedly was seen rummaging through the lost-and-found area of a Wailuku laundromat after it had closed.
Cynthia Tongi, 19, of Kihei was charged with second-degree burglary.
She allegedly was seen in surveillance video in Happy Valley Laundry after the owner was notified by the alarm company and activated surveillance video, Deputy Prosecutor Joanne Hicks said during Tongi's initial appearance Monday in Wailuku District Court.
The business had closed at 8 p.m. and the owner left at 9 p.m. before receiving the notification shortly after he arrived home, Hicks said. She said police determined the business had been broken into through the bathroom.
Tongi has two pending criminal cases, one charging her with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and another charging her with second-degree burglary and second-degree theft, Hicks said.
Court records show she was released on supervision in both of those cases.
While the prosecution asked for her bail to remain at $5,000 in her latest case, Deputy Public Defender Joan Tuers asked for Tongi to be released on supervision or have bail reduced.
She isn't working and can't pay $5,000 for bail, Tuers said.
Judge Blaine Kobayashi kept bail at $5,000, noting it wasn't the first time Tongi allegedly trespassed into other people's property.
"The court believes she poses a danger to the safety of our community," Kobayashi said.
Tongi was ordered to have no contact with the owner and to stay away from the business at 50 Kaniela St.