“Granny Bandit” Suspect Arrested

[UPDATED: 5:00 p.m., May 11]
Police believe they have identified the "Granny Bandit" suspected in a string of robberies in the Fontana area.

51-year-old Dodi Wasbotten was arrested Wednesday after a police department employee who had been making wanted posters of the bandit spotted the suspect's car.

"The vehicle was pretty much a perfect match for the description," said Fontana Police Chief Rodney Jones.

In it, police found a purse from a Wednesday morning robbery and a gun which may have been a toy.

[UPDATED: 2:12 p.m., May 11] The department store parking lots of Fontana are now a little bit safer for shoppers -- police have announced the arrest of the "Granny Bandit."

The suspect has yet to be identified by authorities. A news conference was scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday to release more information.

[ORIGINAL STORY 12:18 p.m., May 11]

The "Granny Bandit" has committed her fourth armed robbery in as many days, according to Fontana police.

Police say the unidentified woman -- whose believed age ranges from 50 to 80 -- robbed a woman at gunpoint Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot of a Target store.

The suspect was described as an elderly woman wearing a faded, neutral-color muumuu and a colored scarf over her face, said Fontana police Sgt. Billy Green.

This is the fourth incident linked to the "Granny Bandit," who appears to be targeting women outside department stores.

• May 11: Target parking lot, 15272 Summit Ave.
• May 10:  Walmart parking lot, 17251 Foothill Blvd.
• May 9: Target parking lot, 16964 Slover Ave.
• May 8: Kohl's parking lot, 14960 Summit Ave.

On Wednesday, police released surveillance video from the May 9 robbery. In the video (embedded, above), the "Granny Bandit" drives up to a woman, gets out of her vehicle, leaving the car door open. After a confrontation, she hops in the car and speeds away.

Tipsters can contact Fontana police at 909-350-7740.