A 45-year-old Hilo man has been charged in connection with a dozen car break-ins in Hilo.

Most of the break-ins were in downtown Hilo along Kilauea Avenue, or in the Keaukaha area.

The investigation began when an employee of a Kilauea Avenue business reported that she saw a man open her car door, grab her purse and run away on Oct. 26. The woman chased the suspect on foot but lost him after he turned up Kukuau Street.

A police investigation led to the arrest of Joseph Ada last Thursday. Further investigation linked him to 11 other car break-ins.

Detectives charged Ada on Friday with 12 counts of unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, four counts of second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree theft, 12 counts of fourth-degree theft, eight counts of third-degree identity theft and eight counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

His bail was set at $262,000.