Second time holds no charm for alleged car thief
A 21-year-old Nuuanu man charged in two armed robberies last month was caught while allegedly attempting to steal the same car a second time.
Nicholas C. Lee, who made his initial court appearance yesterday, was charged with robbing Hawaiian Holy Smokes cigar store in Moiliili Sept. 20 and attempting to rob Pizza Hut's Downtown Delivery Restaurant on Kuakini Street Sept. 27. He is also charged with an auto break-in and two counts of auto theft. He remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Police arrested Lee Thursday as he was trying to drive off in a stolen car in Makiki.
The owner of the car reported her silver Hyundai stolen Wednesday night from near her home at 965 Prospect St., where she parked it earlier that night. Police said they retrieved Lee's fingerprints from the car when it "mysteriously" reappeared at 8 a.m. Thursday in the neighbor's driveway at 958 Prospect St.
The owner reported that the vehicle registration and other paperwork from the glove compartment and an iPod were missing, along with her only key to the car, which she kept in the console.
Lee allegedly tried to steal the car again about 10 a.m. After a neighbor alerted her, the owner went out and saw Lee trying to reverse her car, but he was blocked by another vehicle, police said. The owner called police on her cell phone.