Happy Holidays From Honolulu

"4 mothers turn selves in over toy thefts" by Associated Press  |   December 29, 2011

HONOLULU - Four unemployed single mothers surrendered to police after they were seen on surveillance footage taking items from a Hawaii toy store before Christmas, Honolulu police said yesterday.

The women, ages 22, 25, 26, and 30, were arrested Tuesday at the Kaneohe police station, near the Windward Mall Toys “R’’ Us where police say there were among of a group seen hauling away merchandise Dec. 1.

They were arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft, booked, and later released pending further investigation, said Caroline Sluyter, a police spokeswoman.

Several of the women contacted attorney Myles Breiner last week after police released the footage and asked the public for help finding them. The remorseful women took the toys as gifts for their children, he said, and that he made arrangements for police to take the items from his office to be returned to the store’s manager.

One of the women is six months pregnant, Breiner said. A fifth woman and a man were not on the island and are expected to surrender, he said.

All five of the women are single and unemployed. One of them had a job until news of her arrest got her fired, Breiner said.

“This seemed like a very desperate situation,’’ he said, adding that he’s helping them pro bono. He is representing one woman and arranged for the others to get representation.

He said he is hoping for leniency from authorities.

--more--"

"Single moms suspected in 2d theft" Associated Press, December 30, 2011

HONOLULU - Members of a group suspected of hauling items out of a Hawaii toy store, who say they stole the toys as gifts for their children, are also suspects in a theft of two flat-screen televisions two days earlier, Honolulu police said....   

Those were gifts for adult relatives.

Myles Breiner, the attorney who is representing one of the women and arranged for the others to get representation, could not be reached yesterday. He has said all the women are down-on-their luck single moms desperate to “meet their kids’ expectations.’’  

Now here is an HDTV for your bedroom.

--more--"