Police looking for credit union robber

Police looking for credit union robber

A man who brandished what police say “appeared to be a handgun” robbed a Pepeekeo financial institution Thursday afternoon.

Police Lt. Greg Esteban of the Hilo Criminal Investigations Section said that a masked man entered the Hamakua Coast Community Federal Credit Union shortly after 1 p.m., pointed “what appeared to be a handgun” at two tellers and demanded cash.

“Nobody’s in custody,” Esteban said, and added that the man, whom he described as “covered from head to toe” made off with an undetermined amount of currency.

Esteban said the suspect fled on foot. No shots were fired and nobody was injured during the robbery.

The incident is being investigated as a second-degree robbery.

The suspect is described as possibly in his 30s, between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet in height, with a husky build. He was last seen wearing camouflage pants and sweatshirt and a black baseball cap. Esteban said “a fluorescent, green-colored cloth item” covered the suspect’s face and he was wearing sunglasses. He carried a black backpack.

Police ask that anyone with any information about this case call Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or email him at jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us. Citizens may also call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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.