Kahuku police say a woman robbed the Bank of Hawaii in the Laie Shopping Center yesterday using a pipe bomb or something that looked like one. Woman robs Laie bank
with bomb-like deviceBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comPolice said the woman, described as in her 30s, walked into the bank before 11:45 a.m. and asked to open up a bank account, saying she had "lots of money."
Police said a bank supervisor then showed the woman to a desk to go over the details.
When the supervisor asked the woman for identification, police said she brought out the "pipe bomb."
Police said the woman threatened to blow everybody up and that bank employees had one minute to give her some money.The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of money and fled, leaving her device on the bank supervisor's desk, police said.
Police evacuated most of the shopping center while bomb disposal experts detonated the device.
Police said the device looked like a bomb and X-rayed like a bomb, but it did not detonate as if it were an explosive.
The suspect is described as 5 feet 4 inches and 140 pounds. She was wearing a tan pants suit.
Police said she was wearing a wig and glasses during the robbery.