Hilo man charged with alleged car theft, defacing serial numbers
Police arrested and charged 26-year-old Tyron Keoki Willett of Hilo with an array of offenses, including defacing serial numbers on motor vehicles, auto theft and theft.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred Saturday morning in Pahoa.
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Puna patrol officers responded to an 8:17 a.m. report of a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a residence in the 15-2700 block of Aholehole Street in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision.
Arriving on scene, officers observed an unoccupied black Nissan 350Z two-door coupe. Upon conducting a check of the license plate on the Nissan, they discovered it was registered to a white Honda four-door sedan.
Officers also observed that the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, on the vehicle’s dashboard was missing.
Officers contacted Willett at the residence, where he was observed sleeping in the garage, and he was subsequently arrested for two outstanding bench warrants and for defacing serial numbers on motor vehicles.
He was transported to Hawaii Police Department’s East Hawaii Detention Center, where he was held as police continued their investigation.
The stolen vehicle was recovered and transported to the Hilo police station, pending the execution of a search warrant.
Upon execution of a search warrant, detectives discovered that numerous VINs throughout the vehicle were either damaged or removed. Detectives determined the vehicle was stolen from a business in Kailua-Kona on June 2.
Willett was held until his initial court appearance on Monday in Hilo District Court.
His total bail was set at $35,000.
Police ask that people with information regarding this crime to please contact Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua at (808) 961-2375 or at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.
