Harrison Man Charged with Break-Ins

A man from Harrison has been arrested and released following an alleged number of break-ins at his place of employment.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 18 the owner of the business contacted the Boone County Sheriff’s Office to report a male wearing a black hoodie and black gloves broke into his business and took cash from the cash drawer. While the owner was checking surveillance footage, he found an employee identified as 32-year-old Jeremy Wayne Cates, had been visiting the property after hours and allegedly entering customer’s vehicles that were there to be worked on.

The owner was not sure if the male wearing the hoodie and gloves was Cates, but may have been another person Cates dropped off and picked up outside of camera view.

Cates was not charged with the break in and theft from the cash drawer, but has been identified in footage on previous dates committing of similar nature.

From May 20 through June 17, surveillance footage showed Cates allegedly breaking into a number of vehicles and walking away with a number of items.

The owner of the business supplied officials with screenshots of the conversation between him and Cates after Cates was terminated, and in the conversation June 19 Cates allegedly stated he did not go to the business to steal random items but he saw change in a truck that day and needed it for medication.

On June 20, Cates then stated he would gather the items and get with the business owner June 21, then on June 28 Cates stated he had some of the items and would drop them off.

The report states as of July 5, no items were returned.

Cates reportedly has more than four felony convictions in the State of Arkansas leading to a habitual offender charge.

Cates was charged with four felony counts of commercial burglary, a felony count of theft of property, 17 felony counts of breaking or entering, eight misdemeanor counts of theft of property and the habitual offender charge.

He has been released from the Boone County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.

(From KTLO)