4 carjackings have HPD
urging people to be wary

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Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu police want the public to be aware of four carjackings this month that occurred in different areas of Oahu.

Police said such crimes are rare, as suspects will usually choose to steal a parked vehicle with no one inside rather than confront the occupant face to face.

"This is very unusual in the state of Hawaii," said CrimeStoppers Detective Letha DeCaires. "We don't even have a category for it."

All the cases took place between April 13 and Saturday in the Leeward and downtown areas. The latest incident took place in broad daylight when the suspect attempted to drive off with a child in the back seat.

Police said that at about 5:15 p.m. near the corner of Makaloa and Keeaumoku streets, a male suspect got in the car while a female was still seated in the passenger seat and the child in the back seat. Police said the victim's screams caught her husband's attention, and he came to her aid by attacking the suspect with pepper spray.

The suspect is described as a male in his 30s, 6 feet 4 inches, about 240 pounds, with a muscular build and a dark complexion.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.