Female Transient Kidnaps Girl, 4, From Trader Joe's In Santa Rosa: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – A woman was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a 4-year-old girl at a Trader Joe's in Santa Rosa Thursday morning, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to 2100 Santa Rosa Avenue, in the Santa Rosa Marketplace, around 10:35 a.m.

Police said a woman later identified as 41-year-old Tina Szczepanek, who they described as a transient from Lake County, grabbed the girl and said "something to the effect of 'she is mine'" before walking out of the store with the child.

The victim's mother was at the checkout stand watching her child put away one of the small shopping near the store's doors when the kidnapping occurred, police said.

She ran after Szczepanek, caught up with her roughly 30 feet from the store and yelled to put the child down.

Szczepanek did as she was ordered and fled, walking into the parking lot, according to police.

Police found Szczepanek in the parking lot and arrested her on suspicion of kidnapping.

Neither the child nor her mother knew Szczepanek, police said.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Shutterstock photo