Police Arrest and Charge Hilo Woman Charged in Vehicle Break-In and Fraud Case

Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged 28-year-old Valissa Dahl of Hilo with 20 offenses in connection with a vehicle break-in that occurred on the morning of Monday, July 21, 2025, in the Onomea Bay area of Hilo.

On Friday, July 25, after conferring with the Hawai‘i County Prosecutor’s Office, Dahl was charged with:

·  Four counts of fraudulent use of a credit card

·  Two counts of second-degree theft

·  Two counts of second-degree computer fraud

·  Two counts of third-degree computer fraud

·  Unauthorized possession of personal confidential information

·  Place to keep pistols or revolvers

·  Place to keep ammunition

·  Carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway

·  Two counts of second-degree identity theft

·  Four counts of theft of credit card

Dahl’s total bail was set at $583,000. She is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on Monday afternoon, July 28, in Hilo District Court.

The charges stem from an incident reported at 11:33 a.m. on Monday, July 21, when a 49-year-old male visitor reported that his rental vehicle had been broken into while parked unattended along Old Māmalahoa Highway near the Onomea Bay Trail. Multiple personal items were stolen, with a total value in excess of $16,730.

On Wednesday, July 23, officers were informed by the victim that several of his stolen credit cards were being fraudulently used at various online and local businesses, including one in Hilo. Officers followed up with the business, confirmed the fraudulent transaction, and, upon reviewing surveillance video, positively identified the suspect as Valissa Dahl.

On Thursday, July 24, a traffic stop was conducted in the downtown Hilo area. Dahl, who was operating the vehicle, was arrested without incident, and the vehicle was recovered as evidence.

The following day, officers with the Area I Crime Reduction Unit executed a search warrant on Dahl’s vehicle. Although none of the stolen property from the vehicle break-in was recovered, however a loaded pistol was found in Dahl’s purse.

The Area I Crime Reduction Unit is continuing this investigation. Police ask anyone with information regarding the vehicle break-in or who may have witnessed the incident to contact Officer Sean Tyler Kepoo at (808) 961-8222 or via email at sean.kepoo@hawaiicounty.gov.