LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Authorities Thursday released the name of a woman who was arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap a 4-year-old boy at a Target store in Koreatown.
The crime occurred about 12:40 p.m. Sunday at the store at Next on Sixth Apartments at 620 S. Virgil Ave., between Sixth Street and Wilshire Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police circulated security images of the wanted woman, and sought the public's help to find her.
On Wednesday about 11:50 a.m., officers arrested Vanessa Yara Pineda, 27, of Los Angeles, after someone reported seeing her in the area of Magnolia Boulevard and Tujunga Avenue, the LAPD reported.
Pineda was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, and was being held on $1.25 million bail, police said.
She is accused of forcefully grabbing the child from behind and dragging him outside the store. She allegedly put the child down when confronted by one of his parents, then ran away.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged crime was asked to call LAPD Detective Samuel Soto at 213-382-9437. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.