(ConservativeHub.com) – In a recent incident earlier this month, a Southern California Target store became the scene of an intentional fire. Officials revealed recently that the motive behind this act was not mere vandalism but rather a strategic diversion to facilitate the theft of baby formula.
The incident reportedly unfolded on September 5 at the Buena Park branch of the retail giant. Cynthia Torres, a 40-year-old woman, has been identified as the primary suspect behind the fire. As a result of the blaze, the store incurred damages estimated at $500,000. Beyond this, the retail losses, mainly attributed to water and smoke damage, amounted to $1 million, Fox News reported.
The fire erupted at about 7:15 p.m. that evening. Thanks to the rapid intervention of the Buena Park Police Department in conjunction with the Orange County Fire Authority, the blaze was successfully contained and extinguished before it could wreak further havoc.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said the fire had surged, devouring the children’s clothing section and reaching the store’s ceiling. Investigators, after analyzing the scene and gathering evidence, surmised that the fire’s primary intent was not destruction but distraction. This diversion allegedly gave Torres enough time to steal the baby formula she wanted.
Following a series of investigations, Torres was arrested the following week. The exact charges haven’t been revealed yet.
Torres was booked into Orange County jail and assigned a bail amount of $250,000. The suspect was set to appear in court on Thursday, September 14, according to Fox News.
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