Police:
Invasion robberies
not major problem

'We see some cases here
and there, but nothing we'd
consider a strong trend,'
said an HPD robbery
detail lieutenant

By Craig Gima
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu police say so-called home invasion robberies are not a major problem in Hawaii.

But when they happen, they are particularly dangerous and frightening.

This weekend, two home invasion robberies were reported to police.

The latest happened Sunday night in Aliamanu when three men forced their way into an Ukana Street residence and took cash and a videocassette recorder at knifepoint.

Another robbery happened near the University of Hawaii on Metcalf Street early Saturday morning.

Three men, one armed with a handgun, told residents they were police officers and forced their way into the house.

They demanded money and started kicking two residents in the face.

One resident, hiding in a bedroom, managed to call police.

When police arrived, the suspects jumped through glass jalousie windows and fled.

Police arrested Bertram Mahaulu, 39, a few blocks away. He has been charged with robbery, kidnapping, burglary, drug and firearm offenses, impersonating a police officer and terroristic threatening. The other suspects are still at large.

Detectives do not believe this weekend's robberies are connected.

Neighbor Robert Berrios of Metcalf Street said he was awakened by his barking dogs Friday and saw police cars in the area where the suspect was arrested.

"That's the reason why I have them (the dogs), to protect my family," Berrios said.

Honolulu police Lt. Clifford Takesono of the robbery detail said police do not keep separate statistics for home invasion robberies, but do closely monitor those types of crimes.

"We see some cases here and there, but nothing we'd consider a strong trend," he said.

On May 30, a Makiki man reported two men forced themselves into his Kewalo Street home, put a gun to his neck, tied him up with a blow-dryer cord, and robbed him of a safe.

Last month, police arrested 35-year-old Tae Chon for a home-invasion robbery of a house in Kaimuki on April 12.

In that case, police say Chon -- charged with first-degree robbery and two counts of kidnapping -- and two other suspects held the residents for more than an hour, beat them with a golf club and threatened them with a knife.

Two years ago, police arrested several suspects who were later convicted for a series of home invasion robberies. The criminals targeted Southeast Asian immigrants.

Takesono said the suspects were not part of a traditional gang.

"They heard about it on the mainland and decided they were going to do it," he said. "One thing here, we're not original."

Home invasion robberies are not as big a problem here as on the mainland, Takesono said.

Police believe there have been a number of robberies of drug houses and gambling houses, but some of those crimes are not being reported.

It can also be difficult to keep track of how many home robberies were intended to be home invasion robberies.

"Some may be drug-related and some may be a burglaries that have gone awry," Takesono said.To prevent becoming a victim of a home invasion robbery, Takesono said people should be leery about opening the door for strangers.