The incident was reported about 9:30 a.m. outside the Community Choice Credit Union at 700 East Lyon Street near downtown Des Moines.
Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Jason Halifax said a bag of money fell out of the armored car after a door malfunctioned while the vehicle was going around a corner.
The driver of a red Chevy Cavalier stopped the car and a passenger in the car picked up the bag, police said. The couple then left the scene.
Police said they were able to get the license plate number and launched a search for the car. Detectives said the couple had just been at the credit union the armored car was headed to so workers recognized them from a bank security camera.
The car was found by Urbandale police in a parking lot at Merle Hay Mall. Detectives waited by the car for the couple to come back out of a Target store.
Police said they had purchased clothing and jewelry. They also had some of the cash on them, and the rest in the car.
The bank bag was found at another address. It had been ripped open. Police said all of the money has been accounted for -- several thousand dollars worth, police said.
Samantha Jackman, 20, of Des Moines, and Tyler Critchlow, 20, of Dallas Center, were both charged with first-degree theft in connection with the case. They are being taken to the Polk County Jail.
source-kcrg