A 38-year-old man arrested in connection with the theft of police officer's gun is known by various names but is no stranger to the Honolulu Police Department.

According to Hawai'i Criminal Justice Center records, he has 19 convictions, 13 of them for first-degree burglary. The man is known by 11 variations of two names.

His latest arrest occurred Tuesday when Crime Reduction Unit officers from District 8 (Kapolei-Wai'anae) and District 3 (Pearl City), following up on a tip, tailed him to a Makakilo townhouse complex on Palahia Street and took him into custody at 5:50 p.m. without incident. The man was carrying a pillowcase containing a gun, an ammunition magazine and handcuffs stolen Monday from an officer's car, police said.

He was also driving a stolen car, according to police.

The man was being held at the HPD Central Receiving cellblock at the main station but as of last night had not been charged in connection with the stolen items. Police, however, can hold him beyond the 48-hour charging limit on an outstanding $250 traffic warrant.

Police said they have recovered everything stolen from the officer's car except a bulletproof vest, baton and service belt.

'Ewa Beach residents have been complaining to law enforcement and elected officials about continuing criminal activities going on at a rented home in their neighborhood for months.

"What a great relief," 'Ewa Beach resident Vondell Waiwaiole-Cabos said of Tuesday's arrest of the career criminal in Makakilo, who she says is among the frequent visitors to a home neighbors are complaining about. "Hopefully, he won't be around to terrorize our neighborhood for a long time."

The man arrested is named in letters signed by 10 'Ewa Beach residents sent to Lt. Gov. James Aiona, state Attorney General Mark Bennett, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Honolulu prosecuting attorney Peter Carlisle, police chief Boisse Correa, state Sen. Will Espero and state Rep. Kymberly Pine complaining about drug activity, harassment and other activities at a residence that had at one time no water or electrical service.

Police and lawmakers are trying to help but their hands are tied by the way laws are written, Waiwaiole-Cabos said.

In the letter, residents cite an incident on July 1 in which the man arrested Tuesday allegedly threatened another man with a gun.

Waiwaiole-Cabos and JoAnn Wells agreed to speak despite fear of retaliation.

"He's typical of the people who are hanging around this place," Waiwaiole-Cabos said. "It creates a feeling fear in our neighborhood."

Added Wells, "Even though he's arrested, we have to fear retaliation because there are others not arrested still around."

Complaints to the landlord about children and adults smoking marijuana, marijuana being cultivated, unleashed dogs attacking people, animal abuse, building code violations and trash on the property have gone unheeded, according to the residents' letter.

The letter noted that on Aug. 1, 12 undercover police officers converged on the home and towed away a suspected stolen car.

The latest theft of a law-enforcement officer's gun is the third this year. All the guns and most of the other stolen items have been recovered.

Aliitama Ricky Ramos, 27, of Wai'anae was charged in April with theft and firearm offenses in connection with the theft of a badge, gun, belt, portable radio and other equipment from a Honolulu police officer's car April 19 near Honouliuli in 'Ewa. A 17-year-old boy was also charged in the case.

State Department of Public Safety officials, meanwhile, have recovered a uniform, badge and 9mm service pistol stolen from a deputy sheriff's car in Salt Lake on April 28. Jim Propotnick, state deputy director for law enforcement, said the investigation is continuing and no one has been arrested. The stolen equipment was recovered with the help of a person who had purchased them, said Propotnick.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.