Blytheville Woman Facing Felony Charges Following High Value Shoplifting Incident at Jonesboro Beauty Retailer

Jennifer Nichole Phillips faces felony charges after allegedly stealing a $823 Dyson tool from a Jonesboro Ulta. The charge was ugraded due to a prior conviction.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 4:50 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KAIT8

Coordinated Shoplifting at East Highland Drive

A Jonesboro police investigation into a retail theft has resulted in felony charges for a 41 year old woman from Blytheville. According to a probable cause affidavit, the incident occurred on March 2 at the Ulta location on East Highland Drive. Security footage from the afternoon of the theft reportedly shows two individuals entering the store and targeting high end merchandise. Investigators noted that the pair appeared to work in tandem to conceal their actions from employees and other shoppers present in the retail space.

Surveillance Captures Tactical Concealment

The retail security footage provided a detailed look at the methods used during the theft. Police identified Jennifer Nichole Phillips as one of the women involved. The affidavit describes a coordinated effort where a minor removed a Dyson hair styling product from its original packaging. Phillips then allegedly placed the empty box back on a shelf to avoid immediate detection. The footage shows the juvenile acting as a lookout, providing a signal to Phillips once the area appeared clear of witnesses. Following the signal, Phillips allegedly stowed the expensive device in her purse before the pair exited the storefront without offering payment.

Valuation and Prior Criminal History

The stolen merchandise was valued at $823.99, a figure that typically influences the severity of theft charges. However, the legal jeopardy for Phillips increased significantly due to her past interactions with the justice system. Records indicate that she was previously convicted of theft of property in 2019. Under state law, this prior conviction mandates that the current shoplifting charge be elevated to a Class D felony. The transition from a misdemeanor to a felony reflects the legislative intent to impose harsher penalties on repeat offenders within the retail sector.