Two women charged with robbery J.C. Penney

Two women are being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail after an alleged shoplifting escalated into a charge of second-degree robbery Thursday.

According to Darin Hickey, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, at about 1:15 p.m. Amber N. Bell, 26, of Thebes, Ill., and Alexis A. Wicks, 24, of Jackson were suspected of shoplifting from J.C. Penney, 3049 William St. Bell and Wicks were approached by the store's loss-prevention officer for detainment, but they began hitting the officer in an attempt to flee the store. A patrolman who had arrived at the scene was able to arrest Bell and Hicks, who were later charged with second-degree robbery. State law mandates that if force is used in fleeing a theft crime then it automatically escalates into second-degree robbery, Hickey said.

Bell and Wicks are being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

Pertinent address:

3049 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.