JONESBORO, Ark. — A woman is facing a felony theft charge after police alleged she took $1,900 worth of items from behind a Jonesboro business, using surveillance footage and license plate readers to identify her as a suspect.
Cynthia Dawn Huffins appeared in court on Friday, Oct. 9, on a charge of theft of property valued between $1,000 and $5,000, a Class D felony under Arkansas state law, according to first appearance records.
The investigation began on Sept. 13 after officers were called to a business on the 400 block of East Matthews Avenue for a reported theft. According to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case, a white truck pulling a trailer was seen driving behind the business earlier that morning. Security footage reportedly showed a woman exiting the truck, loading items left outside after cleaning, and then driving away.
A photo of the truck and trailer was distributed internally within the police department. A detective, using department resources, identified the vehicle as belonging to Huffins. License plate reader data also reportedly showed the same truck and trailer combination, and intersection camera footage allegedly revealed one of the stolen items—a freezer—still on the trailer.
The affidavit said the detective, familiar with Huffins from prior interactions, identified her as the woman seen in the surveillance footage. The items reportedly taken from the business were valued at $1,900.
On Oct. 9, the court found probable cause to proceed and set Huffins’ bond at $7,500 cash or surety, court records indicate. Her next scheduled court appearance is on Oct. 23 at 8:30 a.m. at the Craighead County Courthouse in Jonesboro.
As with all criminal charges, the allegation against Huffins has not yet been proven in court.