After conducting an anti-theft operation targeting people shoplifting from a Hilo department store, police officers assigned to the Hilo Community Policing Section arrested five individuals for theft and trespassing on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

Police, working in partnership with store management, performed the undercover operation after repeated reports of shoplifting taking place at the store. In one day of the operation, police prevented the theft of more than $1,600 worth of merchandise.

Police arrested and charged the following three women and two men:

• Brittnay Timbresa, age 33, of Mountain View, theft in the second degree
• Kaela Escalante, age 31 of Hilo, theft in the third degree
• Haylee Nishijima, age 21, of Hilo, theft in the fourth degree
• Bryson Sakai-Soto, age 27, no permanent address of Hilo, theft in the third degree and criminal trespass in the second degree
• Branden Bellotto, age 47, no permanent address of Hilo, theft in the fourth degree

All are scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court, on Thursday, June 9, 2022.

“One suspect, Britnay Timbresa, is believed to have committed thefts over a four or five month period, sometimes taking a wagon full of items valued at over $1,000 dollars”, said Officer Tyler Jelsma, who organized the operation.

“Working together with business establishments helps prevent these kinds of thefts that would have otherwise went unnoticed and brings people involved in such incidents to justice”.

Timbresa was charged with a felony based on the amount of items stolen.

Police will continue similar operations island-wide in an effort to deter thefts, during the holidays later this year.

The public is encouraged to call the police to report criminal activity, by calling the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or in the case of an emergency calling 911.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.