Police: Suspected Kona car thief targeted rentals

A 33-year-old Kailua-Kona man accused of being a serial car thief apparently primarily targeted rental vehicles, according to court documents filed by police.

Shortly before his arrest on June 7 at a house in the Kealakehe subdivision that he allegedly entered without permission, Nakalohe J. Gersaba was spotted by police driving a stolen black 2020 Jeep Wrangler used as a rental by Black Rock Auto Sales, police said.

The Jeep, worth about $45,000, was equipped with a GPS tracking device used by police to locate and apprehend him. The Jeep had been reported stolen earlier in the day from an address on Lanakoi Place, according to the documents.

Gersaba – who apparently knew police were following him – was allegedly smoking methamphetamine in the bedroom of the Palani Road residence when he was taken into custody. Police say Gersaba resisted arrest, demanding that three officers handcuff him.

A glass pipe and a package containing approximately 2 grams of methamphetamine were allegedly found with Gersaba.

At the time of his arrest, Gersaba was wanted by police as a suspect in at least seven vehicle theft investigations in Kona over the past week.

Other cars allegedly stolen by Gersaba include a black Nissan Altima owned by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which was allegedly stolen from outside a home on Nani Kailua Drive on June 3; a white Chevrolet pickup truck allegedly stolen on June 4 from the owner's home on Kapuahi Street; a blue Scion belonging to Kokua Transport and recovered on June 6 while parked unattended on Hao Kuni Street; a private red Suzuki Grand Vitara allegedly taken by Gersaba on June 6 on Kealapua Street after the Scion was abandoned; a black 2023 Nissan Rogue reported stolen on June 3 from the Budget Car Rental parking lot on Aulepe Street; and a silver Nissan Altima registered to SIXT Rent-a-Car and reported stolen on June 4 by the vacationing renter from Kahauloa Road.

Documents indicate Gersaba admitted to stealing the vehicles.

He is charged with six counts each of first-degree theft and unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, two counts of reckless driving, unauthorized entry of a dwelling, resisting arrest, terroristic threats, possession of methamphetamine, resisting an arrest order and driving without a license. .

The most serious offenses, first-degree theft, are class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

During Gersaba's initial appearance Monday, Deputy Public Defender David Saiki requested either supervised release — a form of cashless bail — or a reduction in bail for his client. Deputy Prosecutor Matthew Woodward asked that Gersaba's bond be kept at its original amount of $545,000.

Kona District Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya reduced Gersaba's bond to $125,000 and ordered him to return to court today for a preliminary hearing.

Gersaba remains in custody at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

Email John Burnett at [email protected].