'Baby Stroller Bandit' Arrested, 1 Remains At Large
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — One of two women was arrested Friday on suspicion of being one of the "Stroller Bandits," a pair of women pickpockets caught on surveillance video stealing a wallet from a baby stroller in downtown Los Angeles.
Police arrested 55-year-old Bertha Dona Vargas of West Covina at about 8 a.m. in an apartment in the Rampart area of Los Angeles. Vargas was at the apartment with her daughter.
Norma Lizette Reyes, 51, of Silver Lake, remains at large.
KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports the two women have struck nearly six times since April, primarily in the fashion district in downtown L.A.
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And true to their moniker, the women are targeting moms pushing baby strollers, said Lt. Paul Vernon.
"Typically one distracts or blocks the victim, and then the other one will steal the item out of the stroller," said Vernon.
Lt. Vernon says a surveillance camera caught the two in the act of stealing a wallet from a victim at a swap meet around 5th and Los Angeles in downtown.
As far as their expertise goes, Lt. Vernon says their record speaks for itself.
"They've been arrested before, so you decide if they're good or not," said Vernon.
