3 men sought in 2 heists of 1 apartment, police say
College roommates are robbed in Makiki by a trio that returned
Police are looking for three men who robbed two college roommates, one of them twice, in their Makiki apartment.
On Nov. 14 a 19-year-old man invited two men he met at Centerfolds Crystal Palace on Keeaumoku Street back to his Matlock Avenue apartment for drinks, police said.
The following night, the man returned home at about 8:30 p.m. and found the same two men and a third man with his roommate in the apartment. Two of the three men pulled out guns and robbed the two roommates of cash and personal items, police said.
"They were sitting in the living room. ... It looked like they were just talking to the roommate, but as the conversation went on, the two stood up and pulled out the guns, said, 'This is a robbery,'" said Kim Buffett, coordinator of CrimeStoppers.
The third man did not have a gun, police said.
The victims initially did not report the incident because the robbers threatened to harm them if they did, Buffett said.
Five days later, on Monday, the three men drove up in a red sport utility vehicle and grabbed the roommate near his apartment, forcing him to unlock the front door at gunpoint, police said. The three men then entered the apartment and stole computer and cell phone items and an undisclosed amount of cash, which one of the men was saving for a Thanksgiving trip home.
After the second robbery, the 19-year-old man filed a report with police, but the roommate, fearing for his life, refused to give a statement, Buffett said.
Police said one of the robbers is possibly known as "Pharaoh."
"What stands out about him is that he's very heavyset -- he has a large abdomen," Buffett said. "Pharaoh" is described as in his 20s, 5 feet 11, 220 pounds, with a scar above his right eye.
The second man, known as "BP," is in his 20s, 6 feet and 180 pounds, police said.
A description of the third man is unknown because the victims focused on the men with guns, police said.
The roommates are living away from the apartment while police investigate the robbery.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME from a cellular phone. Calls made with cellular providers Cingular, Nextel Hawaii, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless Hawaii are free.