Thieves take man’s Jim Nelson is not too concerned about his minivan, which was stolen Monday then later used in a robbery. He is worried about his dog Dudley who was in the van when it was stolen.
van and dog
Police believe the stolen van was
used in 2 crimes in WaipahuBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com"The dog is worth more than the van to us," he said.
Nelson said Dudley helped him get through his divorce 10 years ago. The cocker spaniel-bassett hound mix lived with Nelson, his second wife and her adult daughter in Kaneohe.
Nelson went to work out at the Kaneohe 24 Hour Fitness in the Windward City Shopping Center about 6 p.m. When he returned to the parking lot an hour later, his van and Dudley were gone.
At about the same time, police said, a man walked into Rosie's Restaurant at 94-866 Moloalo St. in Waipahu, brandished a handgun, and demanded money.
The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of cash in a green van. A restaurant employee jotted down the license plate number and passed it on to police, who discovered the van was Nelson's green 2000 Ford Windstar.
Police believe the robber could have been the same man who tried to rob another business across the street 10 to 15 minutes earlier. Police said the robber entered Regalo Bakery at 94-801 Farrington Highway, pointed a small handgun at an employee and demanded money. Police said the would-be robber walked away empty-handed because the business had closed for the day and the owner already left with the day's cash and receipts.
Witnesses described the restaurant robber as a man in his late 20s, 5 feet 4 inches tall, chubby, about 160 pounds, with a tan complexion. He was wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt, blue jeans and a dark color bandana.
The bakery robbery attempt suspect is described as a 25-year-old man, 5 feet 2 inches tall, slim and about 130 pounds. He has dark hair and brown eyes. He wore a white T-shirt, jeans and a white bandana.
Nelson did not plan to bring Dudley to the gym Monday. In recent years arthritis and age had slowed the dog, he said. But when he returned home from work that afternoon, Nelson said Dudley followed him all over the house. And when he opened the door to the van, Dudley jumped in.
He said if Dudley is not able to take medication for his arthritis, his joints will freeze.
"If they could just drop the dog off or tell us where he is," Nelson said.
Anybody with information about the robbery should call police. Anyone with information about Dudley is asked to call Jim Nelson at 236-4949.