Hawaii Island police are on the lookout for two men who allegedly tried to steal a vehicle Thursday night in Hilo.
Hawaii Island police are on the lookout for two men who allegedly tried to steal a vehicle Thursday night in Hilo.
Patrol officers responding to a 9:35 p.m. call met with a 20-year-old Volcano man in a parking lot at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The man reported that as he approached his parked sports-utility vehicle, he encountered a man inside, who apparently was attempting to steal it.
As the victim got closer, the suspect reportedly exited the SUV and entered the passenger side of a truck that was parked next to the SUV. The victim attempted to restrain the suspect, who then assaulted the victim, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
The truck left the parking lot and was last seen traveling west on West Kawili Street.
The victim suffered minor injuries during the incident, which is being investigated as an attempted second-degree robbery, but declined medical treatment.
The suspect is described as Caucasian, about 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing at least 200 pounds with a heavy build and a fair complexion. He was wearing pants and a T-shirt over a black long-sleeved shirt. His face was partly concealed.
The driver of the truck was described as a thin Caucasian man. The truck was described as an older model, foreign make two-wheel-drive pickup truck that was light in color with a darker bed.
Detectives continue to check nearby locations and buildings for the existence of video surveillance.
Anyone with information about the identity of the suspects or this case should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or robert.almeida@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribed to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.