Little Rock women arrested after alleged break-ins, thefts and fraud

Penn
Penn

Three Little Rock women were arrested Monday evening after they allegedly broke into a vehicle in Hot Springs and attempted to purchase more than $2,500 worth of Kroger gift cards using stolen credit cards.

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Hart

Valco Depice Penn, 39, Kenna Marie Hart, 18, and Tautiana Laquay Porter, 20, were taken into custody at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the 600 block of East Grand Avenue and each charged with felony counts of breaking or entering and six counts of theft of property, each punishable by up to six years in prison.

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Porter

Porter and Penn were also charged with two counts of felony fraudulent use of a credit card, while Hart was charged with one count, also punishable by up to six years, and misdemeanor counts of theft of property, criminal mischief and obstructing governmental operations. Porter was also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

According to the probable cause affidavit, around 6 p.m. Monday, the manager of Kroger, 3341 Central Ave, reported suspicious credit card activity inside the store. Two women, later identified as Hart and Porter, were allegedly attempting to buy five $500 gift cards using credit cards that were later reported stolen.

The first woman reportedly attempted to purchase three gift cards, valued at $1,517.85, and was asked for her ID. The second woman attempted to purchase two gift cards, valued at $1,011.90, but the card was reportedly declined and she began to leave.

As the second woman was leaving, the store manager approached her to question her attempted purchase but she reportedly pushed him out of the way and left along with the first woman in a white Toyota Camry occupied by two other women.

The store manager was able to provide descriptions of the two women and the vehicle, as well as the store's security footage. Using that information, Hot Springs police officers located the suspected vehicle a short time later and stopped it in the 600 block of East Grand Avenue.

The driver, later identified as Penn, and the two suspects seen inside Kroger, later identified as Hart and Porter, reportedly all provided false names and were detained pending positive identification. A fourth vehicle occupant was reportedly found to have a warrant for her arrest, but she was not charged in connection with the thefts.

Hart was reportedly observed shoving something down the front of her pants. A female officer allegedly retrieved six credit cards from Hart's pants. During a further search of the suspects and their vehicle, Porter was allegedly found in possession of approximately 2.7 grams of marijuana.

A short time later, the owners of the credit cards reported a break-in to their truck at Lakeside Middle School, 2923 Malvern Ave. The back window to the truck was reportedly broken, and a purse, backpack, cell phone and six credit or debit cards, valued at $345, were missing. The cards were later returned to the owners.

Local on 11/22/2017

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