Cricket store robbery an inside job

Cricket store robbery an inside job

Police arrest manager, gunman for orchestrated heist

ralphhardin@gmail.com The West Memphis Police Department has arrested two people in conjunction with an Aggravated Robbery at the Cricket Store at 1403 N. Missouri St. last Tuesday.

On January 17, at approximately 8 a.m., police say Javory Jones, 36, of West Memphis, entered the Cricket Store holding a handgun and demanded money from the store manager, Crystal Robinson, 24, also of West Memphis.

Robinson complied with Jones and gave him a money bag which contained nearly $9,000. Jones then fled the store with the money bag.

“During the investigation into this crime and review of the video footage from the store, detectives were able to learn that Jones and Robinson actually knew each other and had been involved in planning the crime together,” said Captain Joe Baker, Enforcement/ Criminal Investigation Division Commander with the West Memphis Police Department. “During the investigation detectives conducted a search warrant at the residence of Jones and located a stolen handgun and approximately $4,000 in Jones' bedroom which was money taken in the Robbery.” Based on the results of the investigation, detectives were able to interview and arrest both Jones and Robinson the next day.

Jones was charged with Aggravated Robbery, Theft by Receiving and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Robinson was charged with Aggravated Robbery and Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution by Providing False Information.

“We were pleased with the outcome of this investigation and being able to charge both parties in this crime. There seems to be an increasing trend of employees assisting with thefts and robberies at the places they are employed. We want to send a clear message that if we are able to prove an employee assisted in any way with this type of criminal act we will seek to charge and prosecute them,” said Capt. Baker. “A tremendous amount of time and manpower is expended on an investigation of this type of crime, and to have an employee of the business assisting with a theft or robbery is just ridiculous.”

Robinson was released on bond Wednesday afternoon. Jones remains in custody at the Crittenden County Detention Center.

By Ralph Hardin