Woman faces charges in 2 attempted bank robberies

Charges are pending against a 20-year-old Wai­pahu woman in connection with two attempted bank robberies on Oahu.

Witnesses positively identified Tamira R. Durr on Thursday as the person who tried to rob the Ala Moana Center branch of Territorial Savings Bank and the Wahiawa branch of First Hawaiian Bank in October, police said.

Durr was in custody at Oahu Community Correctional Center on a charge of first-degree robbery of an Aiea bank in November when law enforcement linked her to the October attempted bank robberies.

At about 1:15 p.m. Nov. 21, Durr and Oliver Moniz, 27, brandished a handgun when they entered the Aiea Territorial Savings Bank, police said. The pair then allegedly brandished a knife during the robbery and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. Several hours later, police arrested the duo at Moniz’s home on Kupu­ohi Street in Wai­pahu.

Durr is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. Moniz, charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, is also being held at OCCC in lieu of $11,000 bail.

"Suspects brazen enough to commit crimes such as this will be pursued relentlessly and brought to justice," Capt. Andrew Lum, Hono­lulu police spokes­man, said in an email statement.

Police and CrimeStoppers sought the public’s help in identifying the suspect in the two attempted bank robberies.

At about 3 p.m. Oct 24, police reported that a woman entered the Ala Moana branch of Territorial Savings Bank and tried to walk into a restricted area for tellers. Police said she demanded money and claimed she had a weapon. The woman fled when she was confronted by a bank employee.

The day before, a woman whose description matched that of the Ala Moana suspect walked into First Hawaiian Bank in Wahiawa. In the same fashion, the woman approached a teller and said she had a weapon. Police said she left the branch when a bank manager told her to leave.