The Tryon Police Department arrested a Murphy woman last week following the larceny of a bracelet and ring from Bill’s Jewelers located in downtown Tryon.

Karen Sue Barnette, 54, of 123 Beal Circle, Murphy was charged with larceny and obtaining property by false pretenses, according to Tryon Police Chief Jeff Arrowood.

Also taken into custody was Lazaro Perez, 28, who gave no address. Perez was served warrants for a probation violation out of Buncombe County.

Arrowood said on Thursday, July 19, Barnett and Perez went into Bill’s Jewelers and asked to look at a ring. While the ring was still out, they asked to look at a bracelet and wrote a check and purchased the bracelet.

According to the police report, Barnett took the ring while purchasing the bracelet. The ring was worth $295 and the bracelet was worth $160.

Employees of the jewelry store immediately found out that the check Barnett wrote was bad and contacted police. Employees gave a detailed description of the couple and the white Cadillac Deville they were driving and said they headed towards Landrum.

Tryon police contacted the Landrum Police Department with the description and as Landrum officers were inside Subway, the couple walked in, Arrowood said.

The couple was taken into custody with Perez being extradited to Buncombe County. Barnett is being held by Polk County. Barnett also has warrants in three other counties for similar offenses, Arrowood said.