Detectives with Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section are requesting the public’s assistance with any information regarding a robbery that occurred on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., at a shopping center on East Puainako Street in Hilo.

Responding officers contacted a 21-year-old man who reported that his two bags were removed from the table he was seated at within the food court area of the shopping center. The victim stated that an unknown male had walked up to him, took his backpack with contents, and ran towards the exit.

The victim chased after the male to retrieve his backpack, and was subsequently punched in the right eye area by the suspect, who fled the area on foot with the backpack. As the victim returned back to his table, he discovered that another bag containing recently purchased items was gone, possibly taken by another male.

The first suspect is described as a Caucasian male, possibly teen-aged, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 140 pounds, wearing a black hoodie and dark “skinny” jeans. The second suspect is described as a male, possibly teen-aged, approximately 5 foot 8 inches tall, wearing a blue shirt and jeans shorts. They were in the company of two teen-aged females. All parties were last seen walking south on Pilipaa Street.

Anyone with information relative to this investigation is encouraged to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. They may also contact Detective Amy Omaya, of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2381 or via email at amy.omaya@hawaiicounty.gov.

Citizens who wish to remain anonymous can make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record any calls or subscribe to caller ID.