Suspect sought for purse theft in Hilo

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Police are investigating a purse theft from a retail establishment at 3:40 p.m. Aug. 4 on the 300 block of East Makaala Street in Hilo.

Police are investigating a purse theft from a retail establishment at 3:40 p.m. Aug. 4 on the 300 block of East Makaala Street in Hilo.

A man took the purse out of a shopping cart before leaving the store and was captured on video surveillance.

He is believed to be in his early 20s, approximately 6-feet tall and 180 pounds with a thin build. He was last seen wearing denim shorts, a black hat with white leaf designs, and a black T-shirt with a yellow graphic on the front.

Anyone with information about this case or the identity of the person in the photo to call Officer Christopher Jelsma at 961-2213 or the Hawaii Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.

People 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. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.