Man reportedly robbed at gunpoint in Cape Girardeau

The Cape Girardeau Police Department is investigating a Thursday armed robbery in which the victim said a man demanded his wallet at gunpoint.

Police department spokesman Darin Hickey said just after 10 a.m. on Thursday, an officer responded to a residential alarm in the 400 block of South Frederick Street. As the officer pulled up to the residence in his patrol car, he saw the suspect -- who Hickey described as a black man in his mid 20s, wearing all black clothes, about 6 feet tall and 160 to 180 pounds -- who immediately turned and ran.

"Almost instantaneously," the victim, who was standing in front of the home, told the officer the man had robbed him, Hickey said. The officer then began to chase the suspect, but the suspect eluded the officer.

Hickey said the residential alarm was a coincidence that had nothing to do with the robbery. The property owner, who was fixing up the vacant rental property, had accidentally set off the alarm and did not expect any police response as the house was empty. The officer arrived "mere seconds" after the robbery, Hickey said.

The suspect displayed a handgun and took off with the victim's wallet, which contained an undisclosed amount of cash and personal items, according to Hickey.

Pertinent address:

400 S. Frederick St., Cape Girardeau, MO