The unidentified woman filed the report with the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office around 10:30 am, just hours after filing a report with Hattiesburg Police Department claiming her vehicle was broken into at a local bar.

After further investigation, it was discovered that the residential burglary report was false and she was charged with a misdemeanor, jailed, and bonded out on November 19th.

The Forrest County Sheriff’s Office said they take things like this seriously and want the public to know this type of report is a criminal act in itself and takes vital resources away from the investigation of real crimes.

According to Mississippi Code § 97-35-47:

It shall be unlawful for any person to report a crime or any element of a crime, including an allegation of child abuse or neglect, to any law enforcement agency or officer, the Department of Child Protection Services, or any officer of any court, by any means, knowing that the report is false. A violation of this section shall be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one (1) year or by fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both. In addition to any fine and imprisonment, and upon proper showing made to the court, the defendant shall be ordered to pay as restitution to the law enforcement agency reimbursement for any reasonable costs directly related to the investigation of the falsely reported crime and the prosecution of any person convicted under this section.