It's all about who you know, and in this case, the cashier knew the robber who walked in the door.

"They shook hands, it's all on the security camera," said George Williamson, the operator of the Pearl City Shell gas station and convenience store hit by the robber early Feb. 13.

Also on the videotape: the 32-year-old Kapolei man telling his acquaintance, the cashier, that he was armed and to open the register. The cashier, Williamson said, refused.

So the suspect then took soda, cigarettes and other small items and left, he said.

But last night he came back, this time with a girlfriend, Williamson added. The cashier spotted him and called police while the man was pumping gas; patrol officers arrested him at about 11:30 p.m.

Lighted candle sets off home fire

A lighted candle this morning set off a blaze at an abandoned Lahaina plantation house occupied by two men when the fire broke out.

Maui firefighters responded to the 5:57 a.m alarm at 857 Kopili Place. The engine company was at the scene at 6:12 a.m. and had the fire under control 10 minutes later. The blaze was extinguished at 7:55 a.m., officials said.

The occupants escaped without injury from the home, which is not equipped with electricity. Damage was estimated at $25,000 to the building and $1,500 to a car parked nearby.

CrimeStoppers seeking theft tips

CrimeStoppers is calling for tips leading to the arrest of a man who on Sunday was captured on surveillance-camera video stealing items from a car parked at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.

The man, described as a man in his 20s of Caucasian-mixed ancestry, was seen walking empty-handed but peering into car windows in the parking lot, 2201 Kalakaua Ave., at about 6:30 p.m.

He then was photographed in a Honda Accord parked on the structure's fourth level and then leaving the area carrying items.

He was described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 170-180 pounds. Police said he had a medium build and fair complexion and was wearing a dark baseball cap, a white FUBU-brand jersey and dark, baggy knee-length shorts and athletic shoes.

Anonymous calls can be taken at CrimeStoppers, 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

Man arrested in sex assault of girl

Police yesterday arrested a 61-year-old Honolulu man and charged him with sexually assaulting his 12-year-old granddaughter.

The girl told police she had been lying down in her bedroom at about 7:30 a.m. yesterday when the suspect lay down beside her in bed and sexually assaulted her.

The victim fled the Kapi'olani Avenue apartment when the grandfather went to the bathroom and had the building security call police.

The suspect is being held on bail totalling $30,000, facing two counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Police investigate abuse of woman

A 28-year-old Honolulu man was arrested yesterday after his girlfriend went to police to complain that he had abused her for the past four months.

Charges are pending against the man, a Kuakini Street resident. On the basis of his 23-year-old girlfriend's complaint, he is being investigated in connection with six counts of abuse of a household member, parole violation, second-degree assault and a detrimental-drug possession offense.

Part of storm drain collapses in Waiau

Part of a storm drain collapsed beneath eastbound lanes of Kamehameha Highway in Waiau, prompting police to close the middle lane this morning.

The problem at 384 Kamehameha Highway was reported at 5:34 a.m., police said.