Crime & Safety
FBI: 'Plain Jane' Bandit Arrested
The 38-year-old Downey resident, who is linked to eight Southland bank robberies, was captured with the help of public tipsters.

The so-called "Plain Jane" bandit was arrested in Downey on Thursday night in connection with eight Southland bank heists over the span of three weeks, including .
Sylvia Helen Garcia, 38, of Downey was taken into custody near her residence with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, said Laura Eimiller of the FBI.
Last month, the FBI began releasing in an effort to identify and locate the suspect. Eimiller said authorities were ultimately able to arrest the woman after receiving multiple tips from the public.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The suspect's latest heist occurred at 10:27 a.m. July 31 at a at 11900 S. South St. in Cerritos, according to the FBI.
This incident was similar to previous bank robberies in which "Plain Jane," so named because of descriptions provided by witnesses, either slips a teller a note or verbally commands the employee to give her money, claiming she has an accomplice waiting for her.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Plain Jane" has been linked to the following holdups:
- 7/12/12: U.S. Bank, 13372 E. Telegraph Rd. in Santa Fe Springs
- 7/19/12: U.S. Bank, 13525 Whitter Blvd. in Whittier
- 7/23/12: Chase, 14425 Moreno Beach Blvd. in Moreno Valley
- 7/23/12: U.S. Bank, 12721 Moreno Beach Blvd. in Moreno Valley
- 7/24/12: U.S. Bank, 5470 Beach Blvd. in Buena Park
- 7/24/12: U.S. Bank, 23893 Clinton Keith Road in Wildomar
- 7/30/12: Bank of America, 10010 Paramount Blvd. in Downey
- 7/31/12: Chase, 11900 South St. in Cerritos
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.