Police were patrolling the parking lot fronting Kailua Cinema Friday afternoon, less than 12 hours after the theater was robbed.

Jennifer Quinton works next door to the cinema.

“I think it’s pretty crazy. I would have never expected that at anytime of the day. Kailua is supposed to be one of the safest cities in all of Oahu so that’s rough to hear,” Quinton said.

Police said four armed suspects, three men and one woman, broke into the theater armed with guns. Sources said that the suspects wore masks and gloves. They threatened three employees and made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Kailua resident Danny Casler was surprised the movie theater was targeted.

“A Theatres a really interesting thing to break into and rob…I don’t know it sounds kind of strange,” Casler said.

“It’s kind of weird because there’s usually always someone sitting in this parking lot watching over,” Quinton said.

I spoke to another worker who tells me there is security that patrols the area.

“Growing up in Kailua we’ve always had crime I think crime has always kind of been island-wide. But I think the up-tick in crime that we’re seeing is really unprecedented,” Casler explained.

According to Honolulu Police Department’s crimemapping website, there have been 11 robberies in Kailua since November. Six robberies from November through February.

Five of them happened since the start of March.

“I think it’s being downplayed but I think if you’re a resident you’re seeing it a lot more rampant than ever before. And so it’s definitely a serious problem and it’s only getting worse,” Casler said.

Kailua Cinema is located on Keolu Drive in Enchanted Lake Center. The theater is open for business Friday.