NANAKULI, Hawaii (KHON2) — Several Nanakuli businesses and employees are on edge after an incident at a Wendy’s led Honolulu police to open a murder investigation. Officials said retail workers are having to prepare for crimes like these.
A double stabbing outside of Wendy’s at the Nanakuli Village Center on Sunday morning left one employee dead and another in serious condition.
Sunday’s incident is just another example of the challenges retail workers are facing.
“These criminals know there’s no harsh penalties in the court system, especially if it’s a nonviolent crime, if it’s just shoplifting, they know they’re going to get away with it. We’re seeing now that these guys are carrying box cutters. They’re carrying syringes with unknown liquids in them. One guy even pulled out a machete,” explained Tina Yamaki, Retail Merchants of Hawaii president.
According to former HPD Deputy Chief of Police John McCarthy, violent crime has increased because thieves feel they have the right to go into a store and take what they want without paying.
Honolulu Police Department emphasized that the public should avoid confrontation with unruly customers.
“Employees are getting frustrated because they see the same people coming in every day shoplifting and stealing, and they can’t do anything about it. We’re just scared about vigilante justice,” Yamaki added.
“Thirty, 40, 50 years ago, you brought an employee and you trained them with job skills. Now you’ve got to train them with people skills. You’ve got to teach them about active shooters. You have to talk to them about robberies, burglaries, theft and what they should or shouldn’t do in accordance with company policy,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy added that learning to de-escalate a situation can also help avoid danger.
“At what point do you realize that this is not going to end well, it’s not going to go any further, get any better? Try to train them to teach them to look for signs. And the police should be called at the earliest possible time.”