HILO — An 81-year-old Hilo man was uninjured after intruders entered his downtown Hilo apartment and robbed him Sunday night, police said.
Police said the home invasion took place at about 7:15 p.m. at an apartment complex on the 200 block of Haili Street.
“Somebody entered the victim’s apartment, demanded and actually took items from the victim with the use of force,” said Capt. Robert Wagner of the Hilo Criminal Investigations Divisiion.
According to a police statement, the suspects are a man and a woman. The male suspect threatened the victim with a knife and took two antique firearms and other items, police said, while the woman allegedly took a pair of cellphones.
According to a police log, investigations have been opened into possible charges of unauthorized entry to a dwelling, first-degree robbery, first-degree theft and second-degree theft.
Wagner said police have identified suspects in the case.
“We have potentially two persons of interest we are looking at, a female party and a male party. And the victim was familiar with the female party, an acquaintance,” he said. He said the man’s description is “6-foot-tall and a muscular build.” The woman is known to the victim as “Crystal” and is described as about 5-feet tall, about 240 pounds, with long, straight blond hair.
First-degree robbery is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment. The first-degree theft charge, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, is because of the firearms theft.
Unauthorized entry to a dwelling and second-degree theft, which is the theft of cash or property valued at $300 or more and less than $20,000, are Class C felonies punishable by up to five years behind bars.
The victim’s son said his father didn’t want to go public but said the alleged robber or robbers restrained the elderly man with tape, although Wagner didn’t confirm that.
“There’s a lot of this kind of stuff going on, and I’m just happy that he’s not hurt and that he’s safe for now,” the son said.
Lt. Greg Esteban said the Special Enforcement Unit, an elite unit comprised of both detectives and patrol officers, is investigating the case.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or to contact either Detective John Rodrigues at 961-8222 or john.rodrigues@hawaiicounty.gov or Detective Royce Serrao at 961-2272 or royce.serrao@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.