Watch CBS News

Police Issue Warning About Downtown LA Stroller Bandits

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Police have released security footage of two women stealing a wallet from a baby stroller at a downtown Los Angeles swap meet, and detectives believe they may be responsible for other similar crimes in the area.

Stroller bandit
(credit: LAPD)

The surveillance video shows the suspects, described only as middle-aged Hispanic women, sizing up the victim, which in this instance was a mother with her 23-month-old toddler in a stroller, Los Angeles police Lt. Paul Vernon said. The video shows the woman's husband standing nearby.

Podcast

KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports.

One woman distracts the mother and blocks her from seeing her partner approach the stroller and grab a wallet, Vernon said.

"We've identified a trend in these kind of thefts over the last several months, and we want shoppers to be more aware," Vernon said.

Detectives suspect the women live in the area, anyone recognizing them can call Detective Mike Mazzacano at (213) 972-1231, or Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.