Robberies making Honolulu police are warning bus riders that there have been a rash of robberies at city bus stops within the last two weeks.
rounds at bus stops
5 such robberies have taken
place in the past 11 daysBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comThe victims, mostly elderly bus riders and one teenager, were robbed in the early morning or late evening hours, police said.
"Most of the victims get hit from behind and, as a result, don't see who did it," said CrimeStoppers Detective Letha DeCaires. "We've had five cases within 11 days."
The last case involved a 71-year-old female who was waiting at a bus stop on Fort Weaver Road in Ewa Beach on Monday. DeCaires said the victim was hit from behind and struck her head during a purse-snatching.
The victim required 13 stitches, said DeCaires.
Other bus robberies have taken place in Waipahu and on Punahou Street, Waialae Avenue and North King Street. The only suspect description comes from the first reported bus stop robbery on Feb. 14, when a male suspect robbed a 16-year-old male student at the bus stop fronting 2343 N. King St. at 6 a.m.
Police said the suspect approached the victim, sat next to him on the bench and asked the victim what he was doing. After the victim responded that he was on the way to school, police said the suspect put his hand in his pants pocket and pointed at the victim, indicating he had gun, demanding all of the victim's property.
After the suspect took the victim's money, police said, the suspect patted the victim down for additional property before he handed the victim back his bus pass and miscellaneous photos and cards from his backpack. The suspect then fled in the Koko Head direction on foot.
The suspect in the above case is described as a male, 18 to 20 years old, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds.
He has a medium build, tanned complexion, brown shoulder-length hair with a ponytail and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored visor worn backward, T-shirt, knee-length gray shorts, black athletic shoes, and had a blue rag hanging out of the shorts. He also had a tattoo on the right side of his neck.
Police said they do not know whether the suspect in the Feb. 14 robbery was involved in the other bus stop robberies -- two on Feb. 18 and two on Monday. The victims in those robberies were all females, ages 53, 69 and two 71-year-olds.
Police ask that elderly and juvenile bus riders be aware of their surroundings if they are alone at a bus stop in the late evening or early morning hours.
Anyone with information about this case may call Detective James Anderson directly at 529-3356. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.