A 44-year-old man who goes by Keawe or the nickname “Pineapple” is suspected of conning Santa Barbara County women out of jewelry and overstaying his welcome at their homes, according to a Sheriff’s Office warning issued Thursday. Pending District Attorney’s Office charges against Stephen Keawe Kekuewa, authorities are warning locals of his tactics: “using various scams to trick women into inviting him into their homes and then using the opportunity to steal from them.”
Described as “a very suave and skilled storyteller,” Kekuewa reportedly meets women at the bar and tells them he’s a former Navy SEAL who owns a lighting company in the movie industry. He claims to own an alleged property next to the Reagan Ranch, as well as other high-end properties and ranches across the country, read the Sheriff’s Office warning. Reportedly a homeless person living out of his car, Kekuewa has given some women stolen jewelry to gain their trust.
Once Kekuewa is invited into a victim’s home, “he makes convenient excuses to spend the night, come and wash his clothes, or offers to do handyman work around the property to justify his continuing presence,” said the Sheriff’s Office. In the process, he pockets jewelry and other items, authorities say.