Hilo woman charged in connection with convenience store robbery, theft of Toyota Tacoma

A 33-year-old Hilo woman is being charged in connection with a robbery at a Big Island convenience store and the theft of a Toyota truck from a Hilo business, both of which occurred earlier this month.

Jessica Lancaster faces charges of second-degree robbery, first-degree theft and first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle stemming from two separate incidents — a Feb. 7 robbery at the Kurtistown 7-Eleven and a Feb. 4 theft of a Toyota Tacoma from the parking lot of S. Tokunaga Store in Hilo.

Lancaster was also arrested for two other unrelated bench warrants.

She made her initial appearance for the robbery case Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Hilo District Court. Her bail was reduced from $5,000 to $2,000 despite objections from prosecutors. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for today (Friday, Feb. 10).

On Thursday, Lancaster made her initial appearance in Hilo District Court in the auto theft case. Her bail was reduced from $35,000 to $7,000, again despite objections from the prosecution. A preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled Monday, Feb. 13.

Second-degree robbery and first-degree theft are Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison or four years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

The robbery investigation was handled by the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Puna Patrol. The Special Enforcement Unit of the department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section handled the auto theft investigation.

The cases are being prosecuted by Georgia Berrenberg and Kevin Soong, both Hawai‘i County deputy prosecuting attorneys.