Posted on: Saturday, December 22, 2001

3 armed robbers hit Kailua credit union

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Three masked men with shotguns burst into the Kailua branch of Windward Community Federal Credit Union yesterday in a bold mid-afternoon robbery in a busy retail area.

The robbery was over in less than two minutes.

"These guys really knew what they were doing," said Kailua police officer L. Santos Jr.

Five employees and five customers were inside the credit union at 629 Kailua Road at about 3:50 p.m. when the robbers rushed in and shouted for everyone to get on the floor.

Two of the men jumped over the counter and grabbed money from two teller drawers, while the other man stood at the door as a lookout, Santos said.

As they left the credit union, one robber kicked the branch's front door and shattered the glass. The three then got into a stolen 1996 white Plymouth Voyager van and took off.

But the robbers didn't go far. They drove to an older model, dark blue Toyota or Nissan pickup truck that was parked about 100 yards away in the adjacent Longs parking lot and fled.

Credit union president Don Miles said this was the first robbery of the Windward branch. He said he was just glad that no one was injured.

"We've gone over the (robbery) procedures, but you just freeze and do whatever they tell you to do," Miles said. "There's no time to do anything but listen and get on the floor. It was a very trying experience."

The three suspects each were described as 6 feet and about 200 pounds with muscular or heavy builds. Each wore a nylon stocking over his face, navy blue sweat pants, work shoes and dark gloves.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.