ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Asheville Police Department arrested a woman and charged her with nearly a dozen counts of financial card theft following a breaking and entering incident in the River Arts District.

On Thursday, Sept. 4, APD officers investigated a reported larceny involving financial cards from a residential storage unit in the 200 block of Roberts Street.

After consulting with the victim, it was determined that a safe containing the cards and other documents had been stolen. The cards were then used at several local businesses. Through investigation, officers were able to review security footage showing the offender using one of the stolen cards at a convenience store on Depot Street. 

Shortly thereafter, APD located a woman who matched the description of the offender, later identified as Jessica Breanne Awalt, 34, on the 100 block of Tunnel Road. Awalt, found to be in possession of the stolen cards as well as crack cocaine, was taken into custody without incident.

Awalt was served a warrant for felony probation violation and charged with:

  • One felony count of breaking and entering
  • One felony count of larceny after breaking and entering
  • 11 felony counts of financial card theft
  • One felony count of identity theft
  • One felony count of possession of stolen goods/property
  • One felony count of possession of cocaine
  • One felony count of alt/steal/destroy criminal evidence
  • One misdemeanor count of possession of Schedule IV
  • One misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia

Awalt was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $20,000 secured bond issued by a magistrate.

This case remains under investigation, with more charges likely. If you have any information about this incident, please contact APD at (828) 252-1110. You can also send an anonymous tip by texting “TIP2APD” to 847411 or using the TIP2APD app.

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