QUESTION: Whatever happened to the police investigation into the theft of more than 400 solar panels from a shipping container on military property in Aliamanu?
ANSWER: Detectives have been unsuccessful in tracking down the man suspected of the theft or the solar panels, and the case remains open, said CrimeStoppers police Sgt. Kim Buffett.
A new detective has been assigned to the case after the previous detective left, Buffett said.
The theft happened just before sunrise on April 11, 2012. Police said that at about 5 a.m. a man in a white tractor-trailer with black lettering entered a locked gate to military property where Environmental Chemical Corp. was storing the panels in a blue Horizon Lines shipping container with the serial number GESU-484819.
When stopped by a security guard, the man said he was there to pick up an empty shipping container. The guard did not press the matter further because the man got onto the property by entering the pass code for the gate, police said.
The man then hooked up the container’s trailer to his truck and drove off. The trailer was a red Hyundai with the license plate 483OTR. The panels inside the container were described as Sharp 240-watt photovoltaic solar panels, model ND-240QCJ. Police estimated the value of the property at more than $20,000.
The suspect was described as in his 30s, weighing 180 pounds and wearing a white T-shirt, long denim pants, a beanie and boots.
Police opened a case of first-degree theft.
CrimeStoppers asked for the public’s help on April 26, 2012.
Buffett didn’t know whether any tips came in for the case two years ago, but she said police could use more leads.
At the time of the crime, police said it would be difficult for the thief to get rid of the solar panels because of the media attention, but Buffett said Tuesday that if the thief installed the panels on his own property or business, it would be difficult to find them.
She said it’s possible someone could be holding onto the container and trailer.
Environmental Chemical was installing solar panels on military property on Ford Island and was using the Aliamanu location to store material, police said at the time of the theft. Police never disclosed the exact location of the crime as a security precaution.
An Environmental Chemical spokeswoman said Wednesday that none of the panels has been recovered.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellphone.
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This update was written by Rob Shikina. Suggest a topic for "Whatever Happened To…" by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.
