A pair of daylight bank robberies in Makiki ended with a 69-year-old man in handcuffs Monday, according to Honolulu police.
Officers arrested a man who matched the description of a suspect wanted in back-to-back incidents at banks along South Beretania Street and Piʻikoi Street. Detectives have since taken over the case.
In a post on X, the Honolulu Police Department said the first robbery happened at 2:53 p.m. on June 29, when a man walked into a bank on South Beretania Street, demanded cash from a teller and then took off without any money.
According to the same X post, a second bank on Piʻikoi Street was hit later that afternoon. Police said the man made a similar demand there but this time fled on foot with cash.
The department said officers later found a man nearby who matched the suspect’s description. He was arrested on one count of first-degree robbery and one count of second-degree robbery, and detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division are continuing to investigate.
“The male was positively identified as the suspect in both robberies,” the Honolulu Police Department added on X. No injuries were reported.
Investigation and Charges
Police have not publicly released the suspect’s name or booking details while detectives continue to review surveillance footage and other evidence. The case is assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division, which is working leads and asking anyone with video or information from the area to speak up.
How the Law Treats Robbery in Hawaii
Under Hawaii law, robbery in the first degree is a class A felony and applies to conduct such as attempting to kill or intentionally causing serious bodily injury during a theft, or carrying out a theft while armed with a dangerous instrument or a simulated firearm, according to Justia.
Robbery in the second degree covers situations where a person uses force, threatens force or otherwise exerts force against someone during a theft. It is classified as a class B felony under Justia.
Local Context
Bank robberies account for a relatively small slice of Honolulu’s overall property crime picture and are usually handled by specialized detectives rather than patrol officers, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Investigators often lean heavily on surveillance video and tips from the public to piece together these cases.
For non-emergency information or to share potential leads, HPD lists 808-529-3111 as its contact number on its Honolulu Police Department page.
Detectives are asking anyone with information, photos or video related to the two Makiki bank robberies to contact the Honolulu Police Department, noting that community tips and shared footage have been crucial in solving similar cases.
