A Hot Springs man and woman were arrested late Monday on multiple felony charges in connection with an alleged break-in and thefts at a local propane company earlier this year.
Christian Alexander Bice, 27, and Danielle Rene Lamberth, 34, who both list the same Belvedere Drive address, were taken into custody around 11 p.m. near the intersection of Belvedere and Park Avenue and each charged with theft of property over $5,000, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, three counts of breaking or entering and first-degree criminal mischief, each punishable by up to six years.
Lamberth, who also had warrants for failure to appear and failure to comply, was being held on a $16,000 bond while Bice was held on a $13,500 bond, and both are set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 28, a representative of Ferrellgas, 2250 E. Grand Ave., reported that three vehicles had been broken into and items stolen from their facility after someone gained entry to a secured lot by cutting the fence, causing $100 in damages to the fence.
Once inside, the suspects broke into three trucks, removing the catalytic converter from one and damaging toolboxes to get tools out of another. The total damages to the three vehicles was estimated at $4,350.
Missing from the vehicles in addition to the converter were a fuel card, various hand tools, a circular saw, socket set, monitor system and 12 monitors, for a total loss of $5,499.99, the affidavit said.
Hot Springs police Detective Phillip DeFoor reviewed security footage of the incident which showed two men and a woman arriving at the business in a white Mini-Cooper with "distinct markings and decals."
DeFoor was reportedly able to identify one man as Bice and the woman as Lamberth and noted the three suspects could be seen removing property from the premises and loading it into the Mini-Cooper.
On Feb. 1, DeFoor located the Mini-Cooper parked at the residence shared by Bice and Lamberth on Belvedere Drive and was able to verify it was the same one seen in the security footage and that Lamberth "was known to drive it."
Warrants were issued for both Bice and Lamberth. According to court records, Bice was previously arrested on Jan. 12, 2021, on a felony charge of breaking or entering and misdemeanor counts of theft of property and criminal mischief stemming from allegations he stole $888 worth of jewelry from a jewelry case at Walmart, 1601 Albert Pike.
He was later released on a $4,500 bond and is set to be arraigned on those charges in Garland County Circuit Court on April 6.
