Woman set fire in Target store in California in effort to steal baby formula, police say
The suspect set the blaze that caused significant damage to create a distraction in order to steal, authorities said
A woman who intentionally set a fire inside a Target store in Southern California last week did so as a diversion to steal baby formula, police said Tuesday.
The Sept. 5 blaze set by Cynthia Torres, 40, at the retail chain's Buena Park location resulted in $500,000 in damages and a loss of $1 million in retail losses, mostly due to water and smoke damage, authorities said.
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Cynthia Torres, 40, allegedly set a fire inside a Target to cause a distraction so that she could steal baby formula. (Buena Park Police Department)
The fire started around 7:15 p.m. and officers with the Buena Park Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority responded and extinguished the flames.
The fire reached the store's ceiling after burning through the children's clothing section, witnesses said. Investigators said the blaze was purposefully set and meant to be a distraction while Torres stole baby formula.
She was arrested on Tuesday. Authorities have not released additional details about the case, including the specific charges against her.
The Target store location in Buena Park, California, where a woman allegedly set a fire inside. (Google Maps)
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Torres is being held in the Orange County jail on $250,000 bail, according to jail records. She is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Target.
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