HONOLULU (KHON2) — A home invasion robbery on Waialae Iki ridge in East Honolulu has left neighbors shaken. HPD says the victims are a husband and wife in their 70’s.
They were bound with tape while the suspects looted their home. Police are asking residents to take extra precautions, even when at home.
It happened Tuesday afternoon just before five o’clock. HPD says there were two male suspects. One had a gun, the other had a knife. Sources say they were able to get in through a bedroom window.
Sources say the 76-year-old man who lives in the house on Waialae Iki heard a noise in the downstairs bedroom. So he went to check and found a man who pointed a gun at him. While searching the house, sources say they found the man’s wife asleep in the master bedroom, and she woke up with the the other suspect pointing a knife at her.
Police say the suspects bound the victims with tape and then looted the home. And then drove off with all types of valuables. Ricky Mills works as a security supervisor for the neighborhood and was one of the first to respond after the 911 call.
“She was kind of frantic and so I pulled over and asked her did she call HPD? And I drove off trying to look for the vehicle, tried to get every description that I can,” said Mills.
Neighbors are rattled and worry that thieves are becoming desperate and dangerous because of the pandemic.
“It’s really scary, it’s so close by and especially in the afternoon. It makes me really nervous about just leaving my door open,” said neighbor Stephen Gentuso.
A similar incident occurred less than a month ago in Kahala. The victims were also elderly.
“Where the victim was tied up and she managed to untie herself and ran to a neighbor’s house,” said Richard Turbin, chairman of the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board.
Turbin says home invasions were discussed in the neighborhood board meeting two weeks ago. He says police told board members they suspect it’s done by recently released inmates.
“From Oahu correction facility, because of the COVID-19 releases,” Turbin said.
Police say keep doors and windows locked even when you’re at home and if possible, invest in security cameras and motion sensors.
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