Maui ice cream business falls victim to theft twice in recent months
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Maui ice cream business falls victim to theft twice in recent months
Maui police are on the hunt for multiple thieves after an ice cream shop in Maalaea was targeted twice. Two thieves made off with about $40 from a vending machine. A few months ago, another similar break-in happened, when two thieves pried open the company’s van, took a generator, cut cords for a Starlink, and siphoned the gas from the vehicle.No suspects have been identified yet, but police were able to lift fingerprints from the van break-ins. If you have any information about the incidents, contact the Maui Police Department’S non-emergency number at (808) 244-6400.
Earlier this month, two thieves busted into an ice cream sandwich vending machine at Hula Cookies & Ice Cream in the Maalaea Harbor Shops.
The pair made off with about $40, but store owner Angie Bayer said the damages are costly because the machine’s door is broken and all of the ice cream inside of it melted.
“With the product and the door on our vending machine, that’s probably around $5,000 worth of damage,” Bayer explained.
A few months ago, another similar break-in happened, when two thieves pried open the company’s van, took a generator, cut cords for a Starlink, and siphoned the gas from the vehicle.
“That was our fourth lock-in gas cap. Our gas has been siphoned a couple other times there,” Bayer recalled.
The van break-in caused another $4,000, and Bayer believes the same two men are responsible for both thefts.
“Two guys, both times, the first time it was a stolen vehicle (that they were driving). So, it kind of looked like, just from the video cameras that it was kind of the same fellows. They used the same, very large crow bar,” Bayer said. “It’s just hard to identify them because they’re wearing covering.”
No suspects have been identified yet, but Bayer said police were able to lift fingerprints from the van break-in.
To prevent thieves from stealing cash from the store, Bayer said the shop is now only accepting credit cards.
“That’s not convenient for everyone who travels, that’s not convenient for everyone. We lose business when we don’t have all options available,” Bayer added.
Bayer wanted to share about the thefts to spread awareness, adding, “It’s constantly happening throughout Maui. Not just in the Harbor Shops, but you know it’s a lot of mom and pop shop businesses that are being broken into, and we’re busting our humps trying to make a living, and we employ a lot of residents and local people.”
If you have any information about the incidents, contact the Maui Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 244-6400. In case of an emergency, dial 911.
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