Honolulu police were seeking multiple felony charges against a Kalihi Valley man suspected of being the leader of a theft ring that targeted motorcycles.

The 30-year-old was arrested at 6:30 a.m. yesterday by Kalihi Crime Reduction Unit officers at an 'Ao'ao Place home and booked on three counts each of auto theft and detaining stolen property.

The arrest stems from an investigation that began last month when Kalihi patrol officers followed up on neighborhood complaints describing stripping of motorcycles at an 'Ao'ao Place residence, said Sgt. John Kauwenaole, the Kalihi District's Weed & Seed coordinator.

Since Oct. 17, police have seized five motorcycles, a 2004 Jaguar, a 1994 Acura Integra and a 2006 Chevrolet/GMC Silverado pickup at 'Ao'ao Place and another nearby location.

"Most of our cases involve one vehicle and one person, so anytime you get multiple arrests you can start connecting reports and see patterns," said HPD auto theft Detective Thomas Santos.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.