Posted on: Thursday, October 10, 2002

Bank robberies soar on O'ahu

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

This Hawaii National Bank Kaimuki branch surveillance photo shows the man who robbed the bank yesterday. CrimeStoppers

Another bank robbery occurred on O'ahu yesterday, making it the third on O'ahu so far this month and the eighth in the past six weeks, police said.

"We usually average about three bank robberies a month," said police Det. Letha DeCaires yesterday. "We already have three for the month of October."

Police also arrested a man yesterday wanted for a parole violation who is suspected of robbing the Bank of Hawai'i main branch Tuesday, DeCaires said.

The latest robbery happened at the Hawai'i National Bank Kaimuki branch at 3450 Waialae Ave. yesterday at about 1:30 p.m., police said. The suspect entered the bank and passed a demand note to the teller stating he was armed.

The male robber is described as 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 10, 300 pounds with a heavy build. He had a tan complexion with short black hair, wearing a light blue T-shirt with a tapa design on front, dark colored shorts and athletic shoes.

Meanwhile yesterday, police said they also are matching up bank camera photos in seven previous robberies since November 2001 that may have involved two of the same men.

DeCaires said investigators believe the two men were involved in robberies at the Bank of Hawai'i downtown branch Tuesday, the First Hawaiian Bank Kaimuki branch Friday, the American Savings Bank Kaimuki branch Aug. 29, the American Savings Bank Liliha branch Aug. 27, the City Bank Waipahu branch and the American Savings Bank Pearl City Foodland branch March 8, and the Central Pacific Bank Waipahu branch Nov. 16.

The suspects photographed in the Aug. 27 and the Aug. 29 robberies are not only similar in physical appearance, but were wearing the same T-shirt, DeCaires said.