Kauai police seek armed, dangerous Wailua man in burglary probes
Police are asking Kauai residents not to approach 31-year-old Kamron Cortez, a Wailua man wanted in burglary and vehicle theft probes. Tips can be reported anonymously.
Kauai police are warning the public not to approach Kamron Cortez, a 31-year-old Wailua man wanted in connection with multiple ongoing burglary, vehicle break-in and vehicle theft investigations. Detectives say Cortez should be considered armed and dangerous, making any sighting a matter for law enforcement, not for direct contact by residents, business owners or commuters.
The Kauai Police Department said Cortez has an outstanding felony warrant for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, with bail set at $20,000. He is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, about 145 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Police say he is known to frequent the Kapaa and Lihue areas, putting the alert squarely into the daily travel corridor for workers, shoppers and families moving between Wailua, Kapaa and the county seat in Līhu‘e.
Investigators say Cortez is suspected in several recent burglaries and related vehicle crimes, part of a cluster of offenses that have fueled the public notice. The county’s release, issued from Līhu‘e, said anyone who sees him should contact police immediately and should not try to detain him or confront him in person. That warning is meant to protect the public as well as preserve the investigation.
Anyone with information about Cortez’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective Bobby Thompson at 808-241-1635. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at (808) 246-8300, through crimestopperskauai.org, or through the P3 Tips Mobile App. Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i says it can offer cash rewards of up to $1,000 for anonymous information that leads to an arrest.
The case reflects a familiar county policing tactic on Kaua‘i, where wanted-person notices are used to draw on the public’s eyes and ears when detectives need help locating suspects quickly. A similar wanted-person alert was issued recently for a Princeville man, underscoring how often island investigators rely on community tips in cases tied to property crime and vehicle theft.
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