Big Island police ask for help in finding commemorative coins taken in burglary

Courtesy: Hawaii County Police Department

A coin with the presidential seal and the words "Republican Presidential Task Force," was among the coins with high sentimental value stolen in a burglary in Pepeekeo Tuesday.

Big Island police are asking for the public's help in finding military commemorative and presidential coins with sentimental value stolen yesterday in a burglary of an 82-year-old man's Pepeekeo apartment.

Police said the apartment was burglarized between 10:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.

A witness saw a suspicious male teenager or young adult wearing a yellow T-shirt in the area between 7 and 7:30 p.m., police said.

Police said the two coins have little intrinsic value, but do have high sentimental value to their owner. One is a gold-colored Marine Corps coin commemorating the Battle of Iwo Jima and the other has the presidential seal and the words "Republican Presidential Task Force."

Also stolen were a gold ring with jade, two gold rings with cubic zirconia stones and large quantities of loose change, all totaling $1,000 in value.

Anyone with information concerning the items or concerning the case is asked to call 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.