Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Report No. C15019216
Greg Branco
Media Release
A 24-year-old man has been charged with theft of copper in connection with two incidents last June.
The 52-year-old victim reported that 128 pounds of copper pipe had been removed from his warehouse in the Panaʻewa area of Hilo on June 23 and June 25. Investigation revealed that Greg Makaala Hiroshi Branco of Hilo had recycled the copper, valued at $194, without the owner’s permission.
Branco was arrested Saturday (January 30) and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.
At 9:50 a.m. Monday, (February 1), Branco was charged with theft of copper and his bail was set at $2,000. He was also charged Saturday on an unrelated bench warrant for failure to appear. Bail for that offense was set at $150.
He remained at the cellblock until his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon.