Friends of Kimberley Hartley issued a public plea via Facebook to help locate her after she was last seen at a wedding at Surfer's Paradise on August 31.

They claimed the disappearance was "out of character" for the 20-year-old.

However, in an update posted on Sunday, friends said Hartley had been found "safe".

The Mercury can reveal Lake Illawarra police located Hartley at Unanderra's Desires brothel on Sunday afternoon after receiving information she was living at the location and working on a casual basis.

Hartley was arrested on an outstanding warrant issues at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney in late July after she twice failed to show up to answer accusations she stole a safe containing money and antique jewellery from a home in Sydney late last year.

Police will allege Hartley and two other women befriended the two victims before taking advantage of their generosity by gaining access to their house on the morning of December 3 and thieving an amount of clothing and a small safe from one of the bedrooms.

The safe allegedly contained earrings, diamond earrings and necklace - all of which are family heirlooms - as well as $7,800 in cash and personal documents.

Police will allege Hartley and her co-accused were seen on CCTV entering the home before exiting a short time later with a duffle bag allegedly containing the safe.

The victims discovered the theft a few days later and reported the matter to police.

Officers arrested Hartley at Newcastle brothel 'Discrete' on December 15.

Police will allege they discovered clothing belonging to the victims at the premises.

Hartley was charged with larceny and stealing from a dwelling house.

She was granted bail but didn't turn up to court, prompting a warrant to be issued for her arrest.

Hartley was remanded in custody on Sunday and faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday, where police did not oppose her release on conditional bail provided she report to police three times a week.

The case will return to court in Sydney on September 23.