Hilo Man Arrested, Charged in Store Burglary

A Hilo man has been arrested and charged by the Hawai’i Police Department in connection to a robbery that occurred Wednesday.

Police responded to a report of a robbery outside a department store at a shopping center on Puainako Street in Hilo at 11:46 a.m. on Wednesday.

A man had reportedly entered the store and concealed merchandise in his backpack, before exiting the store without paying for the items. A 23-year-old store employee approached the suspect, he struck the employee in the head with a closed fist and left the area on foot towards a shopping center across the street.

The victim did not require medical assistance according to Police.

Officers located the suspect in the parking lot of the second shopping area. He was arrested after further investigation and taken to the Hilo police cellblock. There, he was identified as 26-year-old Lance A. Ulep. Authorities say Ulep was wanted on a bench warrant for violating probation in another case.

Ulep was charged Thursday at 8:20 p.m. with second-degree robbery, third-degree theft, third-degree assault and second-degree criminal trespass.

Bail for Ulep was set at $6,250. He was released into the custody of Hawai’i Community Correctional Center.