Hickory’s Dumbest Criminals

HICKORY, NC – Two men have made the list of Hickory’s dumbest criminals.  Yesterday around 11pm, two men entered the Cubbard Express on Springs Road.  Police say one of the men approached the counter and the other one went towards the beer coolers. One of the men demanded money and indicated he had a weapon, however no weapon was ever shown.

After receiving the money from the register, both subjects left in a tan colored Chevrolet four door car. Officers reviewed surveillance video and obtained photos of the suspects.

Around 3am this morning, Police received a call to assist a motorist at Hardees on US Hwy 321.  Apparently the vehicle had a flat tire. Once the officer arrived, he recognized the vehicle matched the vehicle description involved in the robbery. Other officers responded and verified the occupants of the vehicle were the same suspects who robbed the Cubbard Express earlier.

Mark Eugene Franklin and James Matthew Jennings were both arrested and charged with robbery with a firearm.  They were given a $60,000 secured bond and taken to the Catawba County Jail.