Fear struck into residents of Glendale, Calif. last week after local police warned them about two separate child kidnapping attempts within only 20 minutes.
Both incidents are suspected to be connected as the kidnappers approached the children and said, “You‘re so cute,” before grabbing them from their mothers. In both cases, the mothers were able to stop the kidnappers, who later took off on their own.
The first incident occurred around 5:11 p.m. Wednesday on the corner of Chevy Chase Drive and Adams Street. A woman dressed in winter clothing approached a mother pushing her baby in a stroller amiably, only to snatch the child. The mother fought the suspect and was able to get her child back. The female suspect fled the scene in a small white or silver car, which had a license plate number that started with either 7HY or 7YH.
About 25 minutes later, a male suspect came out of a four-door silver sedan at John Marshall Elementary School and attempted to kidnap a 3-year-old boy. As the boy’s 8-year-old brother called 911 after witnessing the incident, the mother who was standing nearby came to the rescue and fought off the suspect, who fled in his car. The second incident‘s suspect was a man in his 40s or 50s with a beard, wearing a colorful shirt.
The two incidents happened less than a mile from one another.
Glendale police have arrested a woman suspected in the first attempted kidnappings. Lisa Arnold, 52, of Glendale, was arrested at approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday, the Glendale Police Department said in a statement.
Detectives “have been working through the night conducting interviews and search warrants,” and the investigation remains “very active,” according to the statement. A motive has not been determined, but police said they are not seeking other suspects.
By Byong Il Kim
