Firefighters were called to battle two studio apartment fires within an hour this morning.

The first apartment, at 2462 Kuhio Ave. was gutted in the blaze, which broke out at 9:26 a.m.

The woman who lives in the apartment, was not home at the time of the fire, but a cat in the apartment died in the fire, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

Two men who live in a neighboring unit were helping to douse the fire when units arrived. The two were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire was under control at 9:30 a.m.

The second was reported at 10:20 a.m at 607 N. King St., near Pua Lane. Three engine companies and a ladder company were dispatched. Nobody was at home in the upstairs studio apartment, Soo said, but two security guards who tried to check on any residents there were treated for smoke inhalation.

Investigators had neither determined a cause for either fire nor estimated the damages this morning.

Man arrested in car theft, burglary

Police this morning arrested a 32-year-old man, one of two men sought in connection with a Feb. 22 case of car theft and burglary.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is working with police detectives in the case, which began when a 1994 gold-color Saturn was stolen from the valet garage before 3:45 p.m at 2301 Kuhio Ave. It was parked with keys in the ignition.

The car was driven to the registered owner's home in Doris Miller Park, Navy housing. One man used the house key to enter the home and yelled out the owner's name at the front door. The owner's mother, in the living room, confronted the burglar and chased him out.

The mother recognized her son's car with a second man in the passenger seat. She got into a scuffle with him trying to pull the keys from the ignition. She let go when he threatened her with a diving-type knife. She suffered injuries to her abdomen, leg and face.

The robbers drove off in the car.

Driver dies in plunge off cliff

A man died yesterday after he lost control of his van on Halekoa Drive and drove through part of a house and over a cliff.

Firefighters said the man, whose identification showed a Honolulu address, appeared to be in his mid-50s.

He was coming downhill on Halekoa about 1:30 p.m. when his Chevrolet van jumped a curve and drove into 1835 Halekoa Drive, through the garage, a small masonry and tile wall, and a guard rail, said Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.

The van went airborne and flew over some trees, striking one on the way down. It landed in a lawn 30 to 40 feet below street level.

The man was ejected and pinned under the van, Tejada said.

Emergency Medical Service technicians declared the driver dead at the scene. Police worked until late yesterday to determine the cause of the accident.

Boyfriend accused of threatening

A 36-year-old man was arrested last night and faces various charges after he allegedly threatened his girlfriend and hurled a microwave oven at her.

Police said the man came to his girlfriend's Ala Wai Boulevard apartment shortly before 5:30 p.m. He reportedly ransacked the home, threatened to kill the 42-year-old woman, and threw the microwave at her.

The suspect, who refused to disclose his address, was arrested at 6:45 p.m. Police are investigating charges for first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree criminal property damage, kidnapping and abuse of a household member in the case.

Parking lot attendant robbed

Police are looking for a man who robbed an attendant early Saturday at a Kapi'olani Boulevard parking lot.

The robber reportedly approached the attendant from behind at about 3:30 a.m. and demanded money from the register, police said. The victim spotted a handgun in the robber's waistband, and placed money from the register in the man's bag.

The man fled and police put out an all-points bulletin, but he was not located.

Teen arrested after robbery

A teenage boy was arrested at Kuhio Park Terrace early Saturday after his robbery victim turned over some money, but not enough, police said.

The suspect, 17, approached an 18-year-old man waiting for the elevator on the 11th floor of the housing complex at about 11:30 p.m., and asked him for a dollar, police said.

The victim searched his pocket and drew out $25 and change, and handed over the change. The suspect demanded more, and when the victim resisted, he grabbed the victim by the throat and punched him. The suspect then took the money and a watch, police said.