KAILUA, KONA, Hawai'i — A rash of burglaries has struck residents on the Kona Coast of the Big Island, forcing residents to organize more neighborhood watches.

Police in West Hawai'i reported 30 burglary cases in October and November, and the frequency of burglaries has continued into December.

Through the year, burglars have targeted areas from Holualoa and Kaloko Mauka on the slopes of Hualalai, above Kona, north along the Kohala Coast.

Lydia Weiss, whose parents were burgled this month, and another Kaloko neighbor who also was victimized have organized patrols in an effort to identify suspicious vehicles and people.

Volunteers are even escorting people who don't belong out of the neighborhood.

"Police can't do it alone; there's just not enough of them," Weiss said. "It's not like the old days where you have police officers walking down the street twirling their batons. We have to take it upon ourselves."

The vast South Kona region, which typically only has two patrol officers on duty each shift, has 41 active neighborhood watches and community patrols out on the streets, according to South Kona neighborhood watch coordinator Brenda Ford.

"The primary thing we can do to stop (crime) is neighborhood watches," Ford said. "We're trying to be proactive by being a part of neighborhood watches.

"If they want to come to South Kona, they are going to have to deal with us."

Meanwhile, police are urging residents to secure their homes, take inventory of their valuables, get dogs, know their neighbors and watch for strangers.

On Dec. 5, an elderly woman returned to her Kona home to find an unfamiliar truck and man in her driveway. She later discovered she had been burglarized and gave police a detailed description of the man and car.

Two men were arrested in connection with the burglary, but police warn residents to remain vigilant.