Honolulu police arrested a 20-year-old Wahiawa man on suspicion of burglary yesterday morning after he was caught breaking into the dormitory room of a female freshman.

The arrest followed beefed up campus security put into place following two break-ins and an assault on another woman at the same four-building, coed dorm complex in late August.

HPD Captain Frank Fujii said that around 8:30 a.m. the woman heard someone jiggling the doorknob of her fourth floor room at Hale Lokelani dormitory; she looked through the peephole and saw someone she didn't recognize. After the intruder apparently left, the woman went downstairs and notified campus authorities who contacted HPD.

Meanwhile, a male student saw the suspect trying to get into the woman's room a second time, apprehended the man and held him until police arrived moments later.

"Responding officers were able ... to determine that the suspect had in his possession items that were stolen in what we believe was an earlier burglary," said Fujii.

He called the handling of the break-in an example of "heightened awareness" and praised the students' willingness to get involved and their prompt actions in notifying campus officials and police.

"The university has done a great job in building (student) awareness of ... what to do when bad things happen on campus," said Fujii.

He said the man, who is not a UH student, has no prior convictions, and charges against him are pending.

UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said since adding off-duty HPD officers to its security measures in September, UH housing officials have stressed the importance of keeping dorm room doors locked and being wary of strangers.

"In this case we are pleased to report that the resident had her door locked, and promptly reported the presence of a stranger in the dorm," Takayama said.

He added that although officials don't recommend that civilians try to apprehend suspects, the male student who nabbed the intruder didn't do anything inappropriate.

Hale Lokelani dorm freshmen Ashley Dela Cruz and Charlotte Aina, both 18, said they were among the students who were questioned by police following the incident. They said police showed them photos of items retrieved from the suspect and asked if they recognized any of the items.

"It's kind of scary," said Dela Cruz. "But people who get their rooms broken into are the ones who leave their doors unlocked. It isn't like people have to tamper with anything to get in. They probably just walk around and check doors until they find one that's not locked."

Both students said they had noticed additional security since August when the female student was assaulted by an intruder who stole her wallet and threatened her with a pair of scissors.

Aina said she felt less safe because of what happened yesterday.

"Like, last night I was scared that I was going to open my door and someone would be in there. I don't know why, because I was by myself and everybody was gone."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.