A theft Labor Day evening at the Waipio Soccer Complex in Waipahu has sparked a flurry of urgent emails between parents and has drawn the attention of the Honolulu Police Department.
According to police a woman was watching her daughter’s practice on Field 9 at about 4:45 p.m. when she left her purse on a chair and walked to her car a few yards away.
Before she could return a man ran up, snatched her purse from the chair and fled to a waiting car.
The woman’s son, Mitchell Cabreros, was sitting just a few feet away and quickly gave chase. As he attempted to reach into the car’s passenger side window the getaway driver stepped on the gas and struck Cabreros, sending him tumbling to the ground.
“I blacked out for a second and when I got up I noticed the pain in my shoulder and the right side of my body, the twenty year old told Khon2.
Cabreros was treated by paramedics at the scene but did not require hospitalization. He suffered severe bruising and a black eye but is otherwise okay.
“People need to know that this is going on,” he said. “Everyone needs to be aware about this type of stuff.”
News of the incident has spread quickly among the many soccer clubs who frequent the Waipio complex, drawing words of caution and concern
“Everyone's putting the word out to be safe (and) watch your things,” said Scott Keopuhiwa, president of the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association.
Keopuhiwa said Monday’s incident was the climax in a series of thefts and car break-ins at the popular soccer complex in recent weeks.
According to police there has been no surge of thefts at the soccer fields, however it’s the actions of thieves that have many soccer enthusiasts concerned.
"I'm aware of like four of five incidents in the last two or three months and to us that's a lot," said Keopuhiwa.
“The criminals have just gotten really bold and it's shocking. I think out at the soccer complex we all have kind of a trust out there and we all feel pretty safe, but this incident has kind of shattered that feeling.”
About a month ago another theft nearly resulted in someone else being struck by a fleeing car.
A youth soccer coach was on a field when he glanced at his car and noticed a thief was already inside. As the coach gave chase the thief got into a car, which nearly struck a pedestrian as the getaway driver raced out of the complex.
HPD Maj. Gregory Lefcourt, commander of the Pearl City substation, said the Labor Day incident is regrettable but shows what could happen if victims confront criminals on their own.
“We would never suggest you approach them,” said Lefcourt. “Get a good license plate, get a good physical description is what we would say.”
Lefcourt said officers would work with local soccer clubs to review safety procedures and plans are in place to increase patrols at the complex.
“Just be a little more careful I think is the word of the day, but that's anywhere,” said the police major. “Anywhere you want to be if you put it out there then you're putting yourself in jeopardy.”
Keopuhiwa has been in touch with police, soccer complex management and other clubs about Monday’s incident to try and improve vigilance and come up with sensible safety procedures.
“There's also informal discussions between the various leagues at the park of hiring private security or off-duty police officers,” said the HYSA president.
Have a news tip? Contact Andrew Pereira at 368-7273. Follow Andrew at Twitter at Khon_Reporter
