Gun use in robberies trending upward
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Fueled in part by a serial bank robber with an array of disguises and women who held up an ice cream parlor and a candy store, a string of robberies on O'ahu this year has become more troubling than usual because guns are being frequently used to commit the crime.
This year through June, there have been 455 robberies compared with 841 in all of last year. There were 818 in 2004, 989 in 2003, and 1,072 in 2002.
As of May 1, bank robberies had already matched last year's total and police say criminals are starting to use guns during holdups.
"If you're going to rob someone you may as well rob them with a gun because it has a much more intimidating impact," said Ron Becker, chairman of the criminal justice program at Chaminade University.
Honolulu police declined to speculate at what might be causing the increase, but said the numbers are still well below the period from 1995 and 1999 when robberies annually topped 1,000.
"While the loss of property is terrible it is not nearly as tragic as a loss of life would be," said Capt. Frank Fujii. "We encourage the public to remain vigilant and aware and if they do fall victim, please try and give officers the most accurate description of the suspect and the situation."
A serial bank robber, who remains at large, and several armed robberies at local food establishments have highlighted concerns:
The serial robber is contributing to a rash of bank robberies this year.
As of May 1, 23 banks on O'ahu had been robbed, compared with 23 in all of 2005.
The serial robber has been targeting O'ahu banks since last September. Photographs of him and descriptions of his tactics have been sent to FBI field offices on the Mainland to see if they match the patterns of serial bank robbers wanted in other jurisdictions. The FBI and HPD are offering a reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest.
Most bank robbers in Hawai'i make off with $500 to $1,000, police said. First-time bank robbers face up to 18 months in federal prison if no weapon is used, and up to seven years if a gun is pulled.
In general, Honolulu police say, more than 95 percent of all bank robberies on O'ahu are solved through CrimeStoppers tips. The number of arrests last year was not immediately available, police said.
Despite the rising robbery cases, law enforcement officials say Honolulu is unlike cities of comparable size on the Mainland, where violence remains a viable option for criminals because they can move out of state with greater ease. Couple the limited escape routes with Honolulu's tight-knit communities, and robbers in Hawai'i are less likely to use violence.
"Typically, violent crime — especially serial violent crime — is going to be committed by a transient individual," said FBI Special Agent Brandon Simpson. "They (the criminals) don't have the ability to jump in a car and head to another state."
There are two degrees of felony robbery. Robbery in the first degree is a class "A" felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Class "A," defined by the Hawai'i Revised Statutes, happens when a person, in the course of committing theft, attempts to kill another or intentionally or knowingly inflicts or attempts to inflict serious bodily injury upon another; or the person is armed.
Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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