Media release | Hawaii County Police Department

Big Island police are looking for witnesses who were riding a Hele-On bus shortly before one of the riders was robbed after exiting.

A 35-year-old Kailua-Kona man reported that he boarded a southbound bus on Ali’i Drive in Kailua-Kona at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. He got off on Hawaii Belt Road just north of Haukapila Street.

Three men reportedly followed him off the bus, pushed him to the ground, stole his backpack containing the drug hashish and fled on foot. The victim sustained abrasions to his legs from the struggle.

Police want to question Hele-On passengers who witnessed the actions of any of the four men before they exited the bus. Passengers are asked to call Detective Sharlotte Bird at 326-4646, extension 228, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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.