Crime & Safety

Man Tried to Walk Out of Schnucks With $528 in Groceries, Police Say

A security guard confronted Joseph Demarko Bell, who abandoned his cart and left the Ladue store.

A man is accused of trying to push out a cartload of groceries from a Ladue Schnucks store without paying. The items were valued at $528.

Joseph Demarko Bell, 33, of Hazelwood, was charged Monday with felony theft.

Ladue Police said Bell filled a cart with groceries and tried to leave the Schnucks store at 8867 Ladue Road without paying.

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He was confronted by a security guard at the exit, and left the store without the cart, police said. He then got in a car, which drove away. The driver was contacted and identified Bell, who was arrested.

Bell was on probation after pleading guilty June 20 to a theft charge in Bridgeton.

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