Deviating from the more common occurrences of laptop and bicycle theft, a raid between September 19 and 20 resulted in the abduction of twenty-three goats from Kahuku Goats, a farm located on North Shore. The theft consisted of approximately $10,000 in goats, most of which were pregnant and some of which were only a few short days away from giving birth. Two goats were left behind, roped and muzzled with duct tape. The perpetrators allegedly used duct tape on all of the goats to silence them. As of today, the animals have not yet been retrieved. However, two arrests were recently made. 24 year-olds Sherwin Mitchell and Shannon Chun of Kaneohe were arrested Sept. 25 and 27 and charged with livestock theft. Keal Pontin is the owner of Kahuku Goats, along with co-owners Raia and Dan Olsen. Pontin speculated about the planning and execution of the crime. He believes the thieves must have bided their time, watching the farm and learning its routines, before performing the heist by the light of the full moon. In a comment reported by the Associated Press, Pontin said, “If you think about it, they’re taking nannies with babies in them and throwing them over a 6-foot-tall fence. Just thinking of our pregnant goats going over a fence like that is just sickening to us.” AP also stated, “Ever since KHON-TV first reported the thefts, Pontin said he’s been hearing about goats being sold cheaply, for about $20 to $100 each.” Amy Foulk, a senior in psychology from California, knows the owners of Kahuku Goats and is saddened by the incident. She said, “I’ve seen so many jokes made about this ordeal already, and though goat theft may sound like a funny crime there isn’t anything funny about this situation at all. The owners are wonderful and hardworking people, not to mention they absolutely love their animals.” Foulk went on with a message for the student population and community, “Please be on the lookout for these little guys. They deserve more than duct tape and cheap auctions. These aren’t just pets. These people are ranchers, and this is their business and these goats are their livelihood. If you have any information, please come forward.”
Writer: Hannah Packard~Multimedia Journalist
