Tipster Leads To Suspect In Target Kidnapping Attempt

LOS ANGELES, CA — A tipster led to the arrest of a woman suspected of trying to kidnap a four-year-old boy from a Westlake Target store over the weekend, police announced Thursday.

Authorities arrested Vanessa Yara Pineda, 27, on suspicion of attempted kidnapping Wednesday in the North Hollywood area. The Los Angeles woman is being held with bail set at $1,250,000.00.

She was arrested after someone reported seeing her in the area of Magnolia Boulevard and Tujunga Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, which widely circulated images of the suspect.

The Los Angeles Police Department had been looking for the woman since Sunday's high-profile kidnapping attempt.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the attempted kidnapping happened at about 12:40 p.m. Sunday at the Target at 620 Sout Virgil Avenue.

"Suspect (stranger) forcefully grabbed 4-year-old victim from behind without content and carried him outside of the store," the LAPD announced in a bulletin.

The woman put the child down after his parent confronted her. The suspect fled on foot.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact LAPD Detective S. Soto at 213-382-9437.