Forrest City police are investigating two commercial burglaries in as many days, in which some similar items were taken. The most recent incident added what may have been a false 9-1-1 call as a diversion.
Police were notified early this morning that the front window of It's Fashion, located at 2318 N. Washington, had been broken out with bricks.
After entering through the hole in the window, the person or persons who broke the window stole merchandise valued at just over $1,000. These included baseball shirts, baseball logo shorts, along with fashion T-shirts, jeans and twill pants. Clothes hangers from It's Fashion were found behind 2216 N. Washington.
According to the police report, prior to the break-in there was a 9-1-1 call made, in which the caller said there were gunshots in the Forrest Hills area, and that he had been shot in the eye. The caller gave no other details. Police believe this may have been a false call, with the caller having knowledge of the upcoming break-in.
"We don't know for sure," said Dwight Duch, Detective Lt. with the Criminal Investigation Division. "We're investigating it. But we didn't find anyone who had been shot in the eye."
Early Thursday morning, a break-in was reported at Hibbett Sports, in Grace Plaza on Deaderick Road.
Officers found that one of the glass front doors had been broken out by a large piece of concrete. A box of hats was recovered behind the business. Among items taken were ball caps, head bands and Nike tennis shoes.
Anyone with information on either of these break-ins is asked to call Forrest City Crimestoppers at 870-261-1499. Calls will be kept confidential.
Beginning Monday, June 7, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department will be closing a section of Highway 193 for improvements near the Pine Tree community.
According to a press release from the AHTD, Highway 193 will be closed from the intersection of Highway 306 in St. Francis County to the intersection of Highway 284 in Cross County from Monday at 7 a.m. through Wednesday, June 9. The same section will be closed again on Wednesday, June 14 and reopened on Friday, June 16.
These closings have been scheduled to replace two existing bridges with corrugated metal pipe culverts.
According to the press release, local traffic will be allowed on the highway except in areas that actual work is taking place.
All traffic requiring access to Highway 306 from Highway 193 will be detoured using Highway 284 and Highway 259. This detour route will be marked and all traffic will be required to use this or other routes, according to AHTD officials.
A single project at East Arkansas Community College dominated the building permits issued in May, according to the office of the mayor.
The total value of projects for which permits were issued was $446,960, with $366,500 of that coming from the EACC project to remodel Classroom Building 3.
Other commercial projects included a remodeling at Counseling Service Inc. at 1825 E. Broadway, valued at $4,000 and a sign for H&R Block at 405 Cleveland, valued at $900.
Residential permits for May included three siding projects, one above-ground pool and deck, one deck, two remodeling projects, repairs and a shop/storage building.
A wallet was stolen from a Forrest City woman's purse while she was checking out a local store Thursday evening.
Gay Roberts, 58, 8220 Hwy. 284, Forrest City, told officers with the Forrest City Police Department that she was in line at Wal-Mart about 7:30 p.m., when two black subjects began talking to her. Roberts said while she was distracted by a conversation with one of the subjects, the other is believed to have taken her wallet.
According to Roberts, one of the subjects was a female, but she was unable to determine if the second suspect was male or female. Roberts later identified one of the subjects from a book of police photos at the FCPD.
Roberts' wallet contained cash, credit cards and other personal items, according to the report.
No arrests have been made, but the investigation is continuing.