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, 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, 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.