Manitowoc Woman Arrested for $46 Theft at Two Rivers Dollar General

Amy Jelinek, 41, of Manitowoc, was arrested after employees at the Dollar General on Forrest Avenue reported seeing her take roughly $46 worth of merchandise without paying, according to local reporting. Two Rivers Police located and arrested Jelinek, and Manitowoc County Court Commissioner Jewel Scharenbroch set a $1,000 personal recognizance bond on February 9.

Officials reported that the incident began when store staff called police after observing the alleged theft. “Employees told officers that they witnessed the 41-year-old take $46 worth of merchandise without paying,” Seehafer News reported. Seehafer News also said, “Amy Jelinek was given a $1,000 personal recognizance bond by Manitowoc County Court Commissioner Jewel Scharenbroch yesterday (February 9th) on charges of Retail Theft, Felony Bail Jumping, and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping.” Additional bond conditions include no contact with the Two Rivers Dollar General. Jelinek is scheduled to appear for an initial court hearing on March 2.

The charges reported against Jelinek include Retail Theft along with felony and misdemeanor bail-jumping counts. Prosecutors sometimes add bail-jumping charges when police allege a defendant violated a previous court-ordered release; Seehafer’s report did not specify the underlying bail condition tied to the bail-jumping counts. The arrest record and bond amount were corroborated in a separate initial police summary that also noted the roughly $46 loss and the $1,000 bail.

For Dollar General employees and loss-prevention teams, incidents like this combine operational and legal dimensions. Front-end clerks and managers who witness suspected shoplifting are often the first responders, balancing customer service with steps to secure evidence and summon police. Store-reported observations can lead quickly to arrests, but they also place employees in high-pressure situations that require training on how to document incidents and stay safe while cooperating with law enforcement.

Local coverage shows similar retail theft and bail-jumping cases in the Two Rivers and Manitowoc area, underscoring a pattern that store leaders and employees track closely. In a separate case, Amber L. Collins told police she took merchandise because “people keep stealing her items” and she needed clothing for a new job she was starting; Collins faces multiple theft and bail-jumping recommendations in that unrelated matter. Another nearby incident involved a garage burglary in the 100 block of Turner Street that resulted in arrests and additional bail-jumping counts, according to local news reports.

The immediate impact for workers is procedural: document what you see, follow store loss-prevention protocols, and let police handle suspect contact. For managers, the Jelinek arrest is also a reminder to review training, incident reporting and coordination with local law enforcement. Jelinek’s initial appearance on March 2 will clarify the charges and next legal steps.