A masked man brandishing a handgun has entered two North Kona homes this month, demanding cash from the residents inside.
A masked man brandishing a handgun has entered two North Kona homes this month, demanding cash from the residents inside.
Both incidents occurred during the early evening hours at homes in the area of 73-1200 Hiolani St., which is located in the vicinity of Kaiminani Drive. In both cases, the residents did not have their front doors locked, Hawaii Police Department Area II Criminal Investigations Section Lt. Gerald Wike said Thursday.
Luckily, he said, none of the victims inside either of the residences at the time of the crimes were injured.
In the wake of the violent home invasions, which Wike said are being investigated as first-degree robberies, police ramped up patrols in the area and are asking the community to be vigilant. Police say it is possible the same man committed the Nov. 2 and Nov. 12 home invasions.
“We’re hoping somebody has seen something — someone walking on the road, someone in the area going to a vehicle, someone canvassing the neighborhood,” Wike said. “Any suspicious activity in the neighborhood.”
The first home invasion occurred about 7:35 p.m. Nov. 2 when an unknown man barged into a home street and pointed a handgun at the 72-year-old man inside and demanded cash, police said.
After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, in addition to grabbing two cellphones belonging to the victim, he fled the scene. Neither the man nor his wife, who was in another room at the time, were injured.
Wike said the man was unable to provide a description of the man because he was dressed in dark clothing. He also was wearing dark gloves and his head and face were covered.
The second incident occurred about 8:10 p.m. Nov. 12. In this invasion, two women, ages 69 and 72, said they heard a noise in the living room of their home and found a man who pointed a handgun at them and demanded cash and telephones, according to police.
The man then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, two cellphones and a landline handset.
The two women were able to provide police with a better description of the man than the previous victim.
They described him as being of Caucasian descent, between 5-foot-6 inches and 5-foot-7 inches tall, and having a thin build. He was wearing black clothing, including a black sweatshirt with an orange design on the front, and was carrying a black backpack with white lettering on the right strap.
Anyone with information about the crimes is urged to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238, or Detective Sean Smith at 326-4646, ext. 262. The detectives also can be reached via email to wahmow@co.hawaii.hi.us or ssmith.co.hawaii.hi.us.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to caller ID and all information is kept confidential.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.