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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, November 21, 2001

Dog missing after van stolen, used in two robberies

Advertiser Staff

Jim Nelson is looking for his poi dog Dudley Do Wrong.

And the police are looking for whoever pulled off back-to-back armed robberies Monday night in Waipahu.

Nelson said yesterday he knows he shouldn't have taken his dog with him to exercise class Monday evening and left him in the family's van with a window partly down.

The van was stolen while Nelson was in 24 Hour Fitness in Kane'ohe's Windward City Shopping Center, and the dog hasn't been seen since.

Dudley was in a dark-green Ford 2000 Windstar, license plate JDT 113.

That is the license number of the green van involved in the robberies Monday night in Waipahu.

Police say the robberies of neighboring Waipahu businesses may have been committed by the same person.

The first case occurred about 7 p.m., closing time, at Regalo Bakery at 94-841 Farrington Highway. A man entered the bakery, pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded money. But the owner already had removed the day's receipts, and the gunman left.

The gunman was described as about 25 years old, 5 feet 2, 130 pounds, with a tan complexion, slim build, black hair and brown eyes, and wearing jeans, a white T-shirt and a white bandanna.

About 15 minutes later, a man in his late 20s walked into Rosie's Restaurant, 94-866 Moloalo St., and pulled a handgun from his pants pocket. He demanded money from an employee, who handed over an undisclosed amount of cash from the register.

The suspect was described as having a heavier build than the first gunman, at 160 pounds. Other differences in the description included height (5 feet 4) and clothing: He reportedly wore a long-sleeved shirt and jeans and a dark bandanna.

The Moloalo Street robber fled in a green van. A witness recorded the license plate number, and police were able to identify it as belonging to the vehicle reported stolen earlier Monday.

Nelson is seeking the public's help in the return of Dudley Do Wrong. Nelson said the dog is on medication for arthritis and can't move without it.

"They can keep the van," Nelson said. "We'd just like to get the dog back."

The 10-year-old dog is part blond cocker spaniel and part basset hound. Dudley has the body of a spaniel and the legs of a basset, said Nelson.

The Nelsons ask that anyone who sees the van or dog to please call them at 236-4949.

Or call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.