MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men involved in a burglary in Hilo on Tuesday (October 27).

Shortly after 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of a burglary on the 1000 block of Ainaola Drive.

A 63-year-old Hilo woman went to a friend’s house and observed a van parked in the driveway. When she entered the house, she encountered two men. One threatened her with a firearm. No one was injured.

The men ran out of the house, dropping jewelry as they fled, and then drove away, striking the victim’s sedan and damaging both vehicles in the process.

The men were described as local and about 20-25 years old. Their vehicle was described as a late-model light-gray American made van.

Police ask anyone with information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact either Detective Todd Pataray at 961-2382 or todd.pataray@hawaiicounty.gov or Detective Royce Serrao at 961-2272 or royce.serrao@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 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.