Two area women charged with stealing more than $750 in merchandise from the Austin Walmart and Target stores pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Amanda Lynn Kraay, 21, of Blooming Prairie, and Kelsey Kay Ball, 20, of Manchester, both entered not guilty pleas to charges of second-degree aggravated robbery, possession of shoplifting gear and theft. Two of the charges are felonies.

According to a court complaint, the women were detained by loss prevention staff at Walmart on Dec. 18. Due to store policy, staff could not hold the women because Kraay reportedly presented a box cutter as a weapon. However, when police arrived, Kraay reportedly complied with officers and told them where to find the box cutter.

The women told officers they had been dropped off at Walmart, according to a court complaint, but video surveillance revealed they had arrived by themselves in a car. The complaint said police found many unpackaged CDs and DVDs in the vehicle, as well as an Xbox 360 Kinect.

When police questioned the women, Kraay said the theft was not planned, but she admitted to bringing the box cutter so Walmart security could not detain her.

Ball told officers she and Kraay stole the items intending to sell them at Game Stop. She said they took the Xbox 360 Kinect from Target earlier in the day, according to the court complaint. Ball also said Kraay opened the packaging for the stolen items with the box cutter.

The women are scheduled to begin their jury trials on March 5.