A homeless woman was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a 4-year-old girl from a Trader Joe’s in Santa Rosa.

The incident occurred Thursday at the Trader Joe’s at the Santa Rosa Market Place, according to a press release from the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Police allege that Tina Szczepanek, 41, of Lake County, walked into the store and grabbed a girl who was shopping with her mother.

“Szczepanek went into Trader Joe’s and grabbed the victim, who was putting one of the small shopping carts away by the main entry/exit doors,” police said. “The mother of the victim was at the checkout stands and watched as the victim was putting the small cart away.”


Witnesses told police Szczepanek said, “She is mine,” before walking out of the store. The mother followed her and demanded the girl back, police said. Szczepanek did eventually put the girl down and was later arrested.

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