Kalihi-area bank robber leaves no leads

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police have no leads in their pursuit of a serial bank robber who wears a red hat and has held up several Kalihi-area banks with a note demanding money but no visible weapon.

Honolulu Police Det. Derrick Kiyotoki said the robber, who police say is between the ages of 40 and 50, has left no evidence for investigators to work with.

"We have no leads, whatsoever," he said.

Kiyotoki said some witnesses have described the robber as calm, and others have said he was nervous. Police know the man has held up five banks, possibly six, and are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to find him.

On Tuesday, the man held up the Kalihi branch of American Savings Bank. The man entered the bank, passed a note to the teller saying he was armed, and walked out with an undisclosed amount of money. Police said witnesses have not reported seeing any weapon.

Police said the man also robbed First Hawaiian Bank's Liliha branch on Friday, American Savings Bank's McCully branch April 22, Central Pacific's Kalihi branch April 17, American Savings' Liliha branch April 5, and Hawaii National Bank's airport branch in August 2003.

"He's done it enough that he is feeling comfortable," Kiyotoki said.

He said the majority of bank robbers steal to feed a drug habit, usually crystal methamphetamine.

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com