Hawaii Island police are renewing their request for the public’s assistance in locating 29-year-old Mason D. Beck who is wanted for questioning in connection with another robbery reported to have occurred Friday in Keaau.
A 66-year-old local man reported that he was driving his 1991 blue colored Ford F-150 truck with Hawaii license plate ZAY202, when he picked up a male hitchhiker within the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. While in the Keaau town area, the hitchhiker pulled out a knife and ordered the victim to drive to Stainback highway. When they reached the area of the old quarry, the suspect ordered the victim to stop the vehicle. He then took some of the victim’s personal belongings, ordered him out of the vehicle, then left with the victim’s truck heading back toward Highway 11.
Beck is known to frequent Pahoa town and the Kalapana Black Sands subdivision, though he is not known to have a permanent residence. He is described as being Caucasian, blonde hair, blue eyes, a short beard, a scar on the left side of his face, 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds with a medium build.
This is the second such incident with a hitchhiker taking a vehicle by threat of force with a dangerous weapon. Beck is also wanted for questioning in connection with a robbery reported to have occurred March 15 in Pahoa.
Police strongly urge motorist to make wise decisions about picking up hitchhikers.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Section have been assigned to continue this investigation.
Police ask anyone with information about this incident or knows the whereabouts of Beck contact Detective Wendall Carter of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2383 or wendall.carter@hawaiicounty.gov. Those 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.