A group of people robbed at gunpoint at a Kalihi business Wednesday morning were talking story and playing pingpong when three men burst in, told them to lie on the ground and took their money, one of the victims said yesterday.

The victim, an employee of R&L Auto Service Inc. on Homerule Street, said he and six of his friends were taking turns playing pingpong at the business about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday when there was a knock on the door.

The employee, who spoke on condition that his name not be used, said he answered the door, and three masked men appeared. Two had handguns and the other brandished an Uzi, he said. The robbers told all seven to lay on the floor and take out their money, he said.

"It happened quick," the employee said. "They just told us to lay down and take out our money. When somebody has a gun pointed at you, you don't ask questions. You just do what they say."

The employee said the robbers took $100 from him. He wasn't sure how much was taken from the other victims, five men and one woman.

"So many stories about what was going on here are just wrong," the employee said. "You're hearing it here from the horse's mouth: We were playing pingpong and talking story when they came in. I don't care if anyone thinks it was a gambling house. It's not. Not even close."

On the wall in the R&L garage is a set of pingpong balls sitting in a small mantle. Right below is a box full of used pingpong paddles. In the corner sits a folded pingpong table, along with a foosball table.

Police are continuing to investigate.

"There's no indication this is a gang thing or a major problem where you have to lock all your doors and buy a dog for protection," police Lt. James Strickland said yesterday. "But these guys were bold. You want to go after them so they don't have the chance to do it again."

Police Maj. Alan Bluemke, an HPD spokesman, said the area of Kalihi where the garage is located isn't considered a high-crime area. He said police aren't commenting on the robbers' possible motive, but added that while there are Uzis on the streets, until the weapon is recovered it is difficult to tell what was brandished.

"There are a lot of different gun types out there and until you see it, you can't say for sure it's an Uzi," Bluemke said. "But any time there's a weapon used, especially firearms, there's more concern."

The victims' report of the Uzi marks the third time this month police have heard of suspects wielding submachine guns. The other two incidents occurred near the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus and at Kanewai Park. But Bluemke said there is no indication of an increase in armed robberies around O'ahu.

"We're not seeing an upward trend in robberies compared to last year," Bluemke said. "It may even be slightly down."