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Hawaii Police Department
Friday October 16th, 2015 :: 04:05 p.m. HST

Community

10-16-15 Property damage case initiated for cut fiber optics cable on Mauna Kea

Hawaiʻi Police Department
South Hilo Patrol
Captain Richard Sherlock
Phone: 961-2214
Report No. C15030490


Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police have initiated a criminal property damage case in connection with damage to a fiber optics cable network on Mauna Kea.

An employee with Mauna Kea Observatories Support Services reported the damage Thursday (October 15) after a lengthy investigation into the cause of a June 24 malfunction of a buried fiber optical line linking observatories on Mauna Kea to the University of Hawaii network.

Technicians reportedly determined that a fiber optics cable in a conduit located about halfway between Hale Pōhaku and the summit had been tampered with and then pushed back into the conduit to avoid detection. Damages were estimated at $50,000. The damage occurred in a “hand hole” next to a service road about 700 feet from Mauna Kea Access Road.

Police ask anyone with information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Officer Jerome Duarte at 961-2211.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Address/Location
Hawaii Police Department
349 Kapiolani St
Hilo, HI 96720

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 808-935-3311

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