Three Kailua High School students — all starters on the school's varsity football team — have been arrested in connection with a theft after witnesses at Kailua Beach Park reported seeing three boys take items belonging to two Japanese tourists.

The witnesses provided police with a description of the car the thieves used to leave the scene and the vehicle's license plate number. That information led police to the address of the vehicle's registered owner. Police said they then identified and arrested the boys on suspicion of theft.

The theft took place about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, and by 2:30 p.m. on the same day, police had the teenagers in custody.

Kailua High athletic director Mel Imai said the three football players were suspended from school on Thursday but returned to school yesterday.

The three did not play in last night's game against Castle High School.

About half of the stolen items, including camera, cash and a bag, were recovered by police and returned to the tourists, police said. If more stolen property is found, police said, they will send it to the tourists, who have departed Hawai'i for Japan.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com and Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.