Hawaiʻi Island police have charged 28-year-old Brenda Lee Jose, of Kailua-Kona, in connection with two auto thefts.

On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., Kona patrol officers, along with officers of the Area II Special Enforcement Unit and detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section, responded to a sighting of a stolen vehicle in the area of Nāpō‘opo‘o in South Kona. After canvassing the area, the stolen vehicle was located unoccupied on Haku Nui Road. The vehicle, a 2020 Ford sport utility vehicle, had been stolen from a residence on Auhili Loop in Waikoloa on May 2.

Officers conducting checks of the surrounding area located Jose hiding on a nearby property. She was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant of arrest and suspicion of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle while detectives continued their investigation.

Detectives also determined that on Monday, February 15, Jose had entered into a residence on Nohoana Street in Hilo and threatened an occupant within the home before removing a vehicle from the property. The vehicle was recovered on March 2, in the Hilo area.

On Friday, May 7, at 9:30 a.m. after conferring with prosecutors, Jose was charged with two counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, one count each of robbery in the second degree, and violating the terms and conditions of probation. Jose’s bail was set at $47,000. She is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on Monday, May 10, in Kona District Court.