A gunman holding what appears to be an automatic
rifle orders employees to lie face down on the ground
at the Laie Foodland store on Monday night.
Grocery stores
put on alert
after heists
Police believe it's the
By Jaymes K. Song
same masked gunmen
who robbed two stores
Star-BulletinMasked gunmen have threatened workers and robbed two supermarkets in the past three months, prompting police to put all Oahu grocery stores on alert, especially those on the Windward side.
"We're concerned about these robberies because of the possible hostage situation and the high firepower," said Detective Letha DeCaires. "They have multiple weapons that have lethal firepower with the potential for death or serious injury.
A manhunt continues today for the four suspects responsible for Monday night's holdup of the Foodland in Laie.
A masked man threatens employees with a gun
during a robbery March 21 at the Times Super
Market at Temple Valley Shopping Center.
Police believe that the suspects are also responsible for the March 21 armed robbery of Times Supermarket at the Temple Valley Shopping Center.In Laie, three masked men, armed with rifles or shotguns, entered through the store's roof at about 11:30 p.m. after the store had closed, police said.
A fourth suspect waited outside in a Honda Accord.
At gunpoint, the men ordered all the employees to lay face down on the floor. They took an undisclosed amount of money and ran out the back door.
The supermarkets victimized are both on the Windward side and the robberies took place when the stores were closed. In both cases, masked gunmen ordered victims to the floor .
Surveillance tapes show the physical description, weapons and ski masks also are similar.
In the Temple Valley robbery, the suspects crashed a Mazda 626 into the store's front doors to enter.
The cars in both robberies had both been stolen from the Honolulu area.
The Mazda was recovered on Hui Kelu Street near Temple Valley and the Honda was found at Pounders Beach in Laie.
Police suspect the men "cased" the store prior to both robberies, so clerks and store managers are advised to be aware all the time.
"Pay attention to three or four guys coming in together with their eyes roaming around," DeCaires said.
The first gunman is described as in his 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build.
The second is in his early 20s, about 5 feet 4 inches tall with a medium build.
The third suspect is about 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall with a muscular build.
A description of the fourth suspect, the driver, was unavailable.
The suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.
CrimeStoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the gunmen. Call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
