At least six purse-snatchings Saturday included two each in Kaimuki and Moiliili. All victims were female, at least two of them elderly.
"Folks in Moiliili are unaccustomed to this," said Kekoa Kaapu, chairman of the McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board.
"We have a very stable community here, one where people feel secure. This injects into it an element of fear."
Police Maj. Boisse Correa, in charge of East Oahu, was surprised by the spate of purse-snatchings in the area. "We had a few but nothing like the numbers in Waikiki," Correa said. "Then all of a sudden - bang."
Lt. Cliff Takesono with the robbery unit of the Criminal Investigation Division said he's unsure why robbers moved into nontourist areas. "I don't know what's causing it other than maybe pressure in Waikiki causing them to seek other areas and victims," Takesono said.
Business groups have drawn attention to crime in the Waikiki area in recent months. They fear violent crime there may drive away tourists, especially safety-conscious Japanese who live in a country of low crime.
Takesono said police arrested three men for purse-snatchings that have occurred since Friday. "We don't want everyone to get scared that we are not doing anything," Takesono emphasized.
Henry Iwasa, chairman of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board, said there is rising concern about crime in his community. Four or five residents have volunteered to patrol the area on weekend nights, in addition to a neighborhood watch organized by police, Iwasa said.
Some people wait until board meetings to report suspicious activities. "I urge citizens to notify police as soon as possible," Iwasa said. "We'd like more people to help."
Kaapu said neighborhood board meetings provide a forum for residents to work with police on crime prevention.
"The sooner we stop it the better," Kaapu said.
Police may have to launch another public education program on purse-snatchings as they did two years ago, Takesono said.
Rayburyn Izawa, 18, of Kalihi, was arrested and charged with theft and robbery in the two Kaimuki incidents, Takesono said.
Izawa allegedly tried to grab the wallet of a 19-year-old woman reading a menu at Zippy's Restaurant on 3345 Waialae Ave. about 6:10 a.m. Saturday, but the woman held onto her billfold, Takesono said.
Izawa then allegedly ran onto the street, knocked down a 66-year-old woman outside the nearby St. Patrick's Church at 1124 7th Ave., and dragged the woman until she let go of her shoulder bag, Takesono said.
A policeman saw the incident and pursued Izawa, Takesono said.
Nathan Perreira, 26, of Makakilo, and Derek Cabinatan, 19, of Nanakuli, were arrested and charged with robbery, theft and dangerous drugs in a purse-snatching Friday from a Japanese tourist in Waikele Center, Takesono said. He didn't have details on the drug charge.
In Moiliili, suspects in a stolen car grabbed the purse of a 73-year-old woman in the parking lot of Domino's Pizza at 2334 S. King St. She fell and suffered a dislocated shoulder.
The suspects then stopped two Japanese tourists who were walking into the nearby Kirin Restaurant at 2518 S. Beretania St., pushed and punched the tourists and stole their purses.