Honolulu police and the state Department of Public Safety are investigating the theft of a deputy sheriff's uniform, identification badge and 9 mm handgun from the trunk of the deputy's car that was parked outside her Salt Lake home.

The theft was reported about 6:45 a.m. yesterday. The items were turned in yesterday afternoon by a "confidential informant," said Frank Lopez, interim director of the state Department of Public Safety. No arrests have been made in the case, he said.

Lopez said the thief apparently broke into the car and then entered the trunk from the back seat area.

Public Safety regulations require deputies to keep control of their weapons or to secure them in an "appropriate place," and Public Safety's administrative investigation into the incident will focus on whether that policy was violated, Lopez said.

The deputy has been with the department for about four years, he said.

On April 19 Honolulu police officer Taase Faumui, a six-year veteran of the police department, had his badge, gun, belt, portable radio and other equipment stolen from his vehicle, but police recovered the gun and most of the equipment.

Faumui was off duty when his white 1996 Dodge Neon ran out of gas. He said he parked the car near the Honouliuli sewage plant at about 2:30 p.m. and walked to get gas. When he returned he discovered his car had been broken into and the police equipment stolen.

Aliitama Ricky Ramos, 27, of Wai'anae was charged with theft and firearms offenses in connection with that theft. A 17-year-old was also arrested in connection with the stolen police equipment, but no other information was available about that case.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.