Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA -- Thieves twice struck a Japanese man camping on Jim Creek last week, first cleaning out his campsite, then cracking him over the head and robbing him of his cash and traveler's checks, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Reona Kobayashi, 21, of Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, Japan, was camping alone near Jim Creek, according to a trooper statement. Sometime between 3:45 and 5 p.m. July 11, someone stole his tent, backpack and sleeping bag, according to troopers.

Kobayashi found someone to help him and together they went to the troopers' Palmer post at 5:32 p.m., according to a report and trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters.

Despite his broken English, Kobayashi managed to explain what happened and file a report, Peters said.

At 12:43 p.m. July 12, troopers responded to the pavilion on Sullivan Road and found Kobayashi in trouble again, this time with a bump on his head and a bruised arm, Peters said.

"He wasn't hurt very badly; he declined to go to the hospital," Peters said.

He told troopers that an hour earlier he had met with a person whom he had paid $200 to help get his stuff back.

Kobayashi said he met the person the same day his stuff went missing and the person claimed to know where it was.

But when they met again on the east side of Jim Creek, the person robbed Kobayashi, hitting him over the head and making off with traveler's checks, credit cards, camping equipment and $500 cash, according to troopers.

Peters said that some of the stolen equipment was later found scattered in the bushes about Kobayashi's campsite.

The trooper investigating the case is on leave for another week and further details were unavailable.

Kobayashi, Peters said, may or may not still be in the state. As he has no permanent residence, the best troopers could do was give him a phone number to call.

"He just checks back in with us," Peters said.

Find Andrew Wellner online at adn.com/contact/awellner or call 352-6710.