Woman arrested after breaking into machine at laundromat

A woman faces charges in Izard County after authorities were called to a business in Horseshoe Bend for a report of vandalism.

According to a report from the Izard County Sheriff’s Department, authorities met with the owner of the laundromat who showed them video footage of the incident during which one of the machine’s at the business was damaged.

While viewing the footage, authorities identified two possible suspects, 31-year-old Shelia Bryant and her mother.

The video showed Bryant sit on a bench next to a machine and occasionally lean toward it making motions as though she may have been tampering with the side of the machine’s outer wall.

The owner showed officers the damage to the outer cover which appeared to be a rough cut hole made using a saw or file. The hole had been covered with black ducttape, which initially went undetected because it closly matched the paint on the side of the machine.

The victim told authorities the cost of the machine was approximately $1,750 and could not be repaired due to the design. The victim also told authorities they were unsure of how much money had been removed from the machine.

On Feb. 24, Investigator Sean Tomlinson met with Bryant’s mother who stated Bryant was involved with damaging the machine using a file and widening the hole until she was able to fit her hand inside the machine.

Initially, Bryant refused to speak with Tomlinson but later made contact and stated there was a small hole in the side of the machiene and she had enlarged it. After doing so, she removed $56 in change and stated she had taken the money to buy food.

When asked about the duct tape, Bryant said she had stolen it from a local store and used it to cover the damage to the coin machine.

As a result, Bryant has been charged with breaking or entering, a class D felony; criminal micheif, a class D felony; theft of proprety and possession of instrument of crime.

Bond for Bryant was set at $10,000.