Police seek 2 suspects after brazen jewelry store robbery in Kakaako
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Opal Fields owner Thomas Wheeler walked inside his store after a robbery, early this morning, at Waterfront Plaza in Honolulu.
ROSEMARIE BERNARDO / RBERNARDO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Noel Membrere of Waterfront Plaza’s maintenance staff helped to clear shattered glass from Opal Fields. Police said two suspects used physical force and a hammer to break into the jewelry store early today.
Two thieves rode into Waterfront Plaza in Kakaako on motorcycles early Wednesday, threatened a security guard, and used a hammer to break into a jewelry store, Honolulu police said.
Police have opened a robbery and burglary investigation, and are looking for the males, who were wearing motorcycle helmets at the time of the crime at 500 Ala Moana Blvd.
Police said the perpetrators rode into the plaza, also known as Restaurant Row, just before 1:40 a.m., used a handgun to threaten the guard, and took his cellphone and portable radio.
They then used a hammer to break the glass door of the Opal Fields jewelry store, grabbed items and fled, police said.
Jewelry and a couple of watches with an estimated total value of under $5,000 were taken from the store, according to store owner Thomas Wheeler.
Damage to the store including a shattered glass door and display cases was estimated at $15,000 to $20,000.
Wheeler was at his business Wednesday morning cleaning up broken pieces of glass from display cases as maintenance staff cleared shattered glass from the ground where the front door once stood.
He said this is the first time a burglary occurred at Opal Fields.
Anyone with information on the suspects is urged to call police.
