HPD Seeking ID of Purse Snatcher

Video surveillance image provided by HPD.

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating the theft of a customer’s purse from a retail establishment on the 300 block of East Maka‘ala Street in Hilo.

At approximately 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, an unidentified man removed the purse from a shopping cart before leaving the store.

His image 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.

Police ask 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 Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters 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. 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.