Three juveniles in custody following Schnucks robbery

Police have apprehended three teenagers suspected of robbing a Cape Girardeau grocery store early Tuesday morning.

According to Cpl. Adam Glueck, a Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman, police received a call at 2:30 a.m. of an armed robbery at Schnucks, 19 S. Kingshighway.

Schnucks employees told officers a teen entered the store, displayed what appeared to be a black semiautomatic handgun and demanded

money.

"I think we have had an inordinate number of armed robberies at businesses recently," Glueck said. "We don't think the Schnucks robbery is related to the others right now, but we're not going to rule anything out."

A 16-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.

After arriving on the scene, an officer saw a red Chevrolet Cavalier traveling on William Street at a high rate of speed. The vehicle turned onto Edgewood Street, where police saw three teens flee from the car. The suspects then fled to a wooded area near the Subway restaurant at 252 Silver Springs

Road.

Inside the Cavalier, officers discovered a skeleton mask they believed was used in the robbery, money and clothing. Glueck said the clothing matched what the subject appeared to be wearing as seen in a Schnucks surveillance video.

A BB gun was found in the vehicle's glove compartment.

"The victims believed this was the real thing, when in fact it was just a BB gun," Glueck said. "If we're talking about a robbery, it's enough that the victims believe that's a real weapon."

Police discovered the vehicle involved in the incident was registered to the 16-year-old's mother. When contacted by officers, she confirmed the vehicle and her son were not at the residence.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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