North English woman facing charges after failing to return rental vehicles

Hunter
03/01/24

A North English woman was arrested earlier this week after a January incident where she allegedly used another person’s ID to rent a moving van and didn’t return it.

Police say they were called to the U-Haul branch on Highway 1 West for a rental moving van that hadn’t been returned. According to the store, 36—year-old Jessica Sims showed an Iowa driver’s license and completed the paperwork to rent the truck on January 17th, but used someone else’s ID to obtain the vehicle.

Sims reportedly put her actual information down as an emergency contact on the rental paperwork, and she was identified as the suspect. The victim told authorities that her driver’s license was taken in early January when she and Sims were co-workers at a bar and believed her to be the one who stole it from her purse.

Sims allegedly was seen by security cameras shoplifting on January 20th from Fin & Feather and driving away in the same U-Haul she rented days before.

On January 21st, a flatbed trailer was stolen from a construction company off of Herbert Hoover Highway. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Sims arriving with the U-Haul and spray painting over decals on the stolen trailer.  Her footprints were reportedly found in the snow.

Authorities found the U-Haul in a ditch in rural West Branch on January 23rd .

A warrant was issued for the woman’s arrest last week, and she was taken into custody Wednesday. Sims faces a prison sentence of up to nine years if convicted on the charges, which include Identity Theft, Operating Vehicle without Owner’s Consent, and second degree Theft.