Ex-convict allegedly steals truck parts, then truck itself

An ex-convict was arrested again on Friday, this time for allegedly stealing tires and other parts of a pickup truck and eventually the truck itself from a dive shop in Susupe.

Thomas T. Matsunaga, 51, was arrested on Friday in Kannat Tabla for theft and theft of vehicle.

It was Matsunaga’s brother who called police because the victim is his tenant. The brother also complained that the suspect stole two of his 18,000 BTU split-type air-conditioners and three window-type air-conditioners.

Police later traced the stolen red Toyota T100 to an auto repair shop in Illiyan, where they found out that they towed the truck after Matsunaga sold it for $350.

At a hearing on Tuesday, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo retained the $20,000 cash bail that was earlier imposed on Matsunaga.

Preliminary hearing will be on June 7 at 1:30pm.

Govendo learned that there is an outstanding bench warrant issued against Matsunaga on June 23, 2015, for failing to appear at his review hearing in his previous criminal conviction.

Govendo ordered the defendant to appear at the review hearing on Aug. 16, 2016, at 9am.

Chief public defender Douglas Hartig was appointed as counsel for Matsunaga. Assistant attorney general Matthew Baisley appeared for the government.

Police Detective Daniel Maliuyaf stated in his report that last May 20, a police officer was dispatched to a house in Susupe after Matsunaga’s brother sought police assistance.

According to the brother, on May 20 at 8am, his Korean tenant called him to complain that the rear end of his red Toyota T100 was stolen.

The brother learned that Matsunaga sold the rear end of the T100 to a person in Chalan Kanoa.

Last May 24, the Korean tenant called again his landlord (Matsunaga’s brother) that this time the entire T 100 truck was missing.

Some witnesses saw a tow truck pulling the red T100 from the house.

Maliuyaf said that during his interview the Korean tenant stated that he went to his dive shop at Matsunaga’s property in Susupe to take his diving gear last May 20.

The tenant noticed that his truck’s rear differential and rear tires were missing. He also found out that the truck’s transmission was also gone.

The tenant then called his landlord (Matsunaga’s brother).

The brother then learned that his air-conditioners were also stolen.

The brother then called the police.

Last May 24 at 7am, the tenant came to the shop and found out that the entire truck was missing.

The tenant also discovered that other items such as diving gear were stolen from the shop. The Korean is worried that his two boats might also be stolen.

Police learned that it was Matsunaga who called an auto repair shop and sold the truck for $350. The shop bought the truck to use its parts.

The shop didn’t think that there’s problem with the truck because it was parked at Matsunaga’s residence. (Ferdie de la Torre)