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Prince William County police
Stephanie Lynn Schwab, 26, is a former gang member accused of a recent spate of crimes in the Virginia-Maryland area.
By NBCWashington.com and msnbc.com
A so-called "blond bandit" suspected of multiple heists in Virginia has been linked to another crime, this one a carjacking on Thanksgiving Day in Maryland.
Stephanie Lynn Schwab, 26, described as a 5'3'' white female with blond hair and green eyes, earned her nickname after being named in connection with an earlier carjacking and two bank robberies, all of which took place between Nov. 18 and Nov. 21, according to Virginia's InsideNova.com.
In Thursday's incident, Baltimore County police say Schwab asked a woman for a ride from the parking lot of a Safeway supermarket to a Shoppers Food Warehouse. But when the victim stopped her car, Schwab allegedly displayed a knife and told her to keep driving.
The victim asked a nearby man for help, at which point the suspect attempted to climb into the driver's seat. The victim tried to grab the knife from Schwab and was cut on the hand, officials said. Schwab then fled on foot, police said, according to InsideNova.com.
Schwab is also wanted in an armed carjacking on Nov. 19 of a silver 2003 Acura.
In that incident, a 59-year-old woman had offered the suspect a ride from the parking lot of Neiman Marcus at the Tysons Corner shopping center in Virginia. They left together in the Acura, but at a nearby intersection, the suspect showed a knife and told the victim to get out of the car. That victim was left at the intersection, reported NBCWashington.com. The Acura was found on Friday. Detectives connected Schwab to the crime and have obtained a warrant for her arrest.
Schwab also has been linked to a Nov. 18 bank robbery in Prince William County, Va. She may have been involved in another bank robbery Nov. 22, at a BB&T in Springfield, Va.
She was last seen Thursday, running eastbound on Route 40 towards Baltimore City. She has no known connection to that area, and may be staying in a motel, waiting for a chance to commandeer a getaway car, reported WBALTV.com. Police are asking drivers to use caution, as the suspect may approach vehicles asking for a ride.
Former gang member
Schwab, of Manassas, Va., is a former member of the MS-13 gang, according to court records. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that she joined the group after running away from home at the age of 12. She reportedly had a fellow gang member's child three years later, and is now a mother of two, reported WBALTV.com. In 2005, Schwab testified against MS-13 members in a murder trial, reported InsideNova.com.
Police don't know what prompted the recent robbery spree.
Anyone with information is asked to call Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP (866-756-2587). To text a tip to Metro Crime Stoppers, send to "CRIMES" (274637), then enter the message starting with "MCS," or e-mail a tip to www.metrocrimestoppers.org.
Those contacting Metro Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Leave a Comment:
Gang activity is much worse than many people imagine. It measures the civic and moral decay of our Country.
"Police don't know what prompted the recent robbery spree."
Maybe she needs to feed her kids?
There are many community resources available to feed her kids. There is no excuse for behavior like this, besides, what was she going to do to feed her kids? sell the car?
tontosh - attempt to think before you type.
Would you ever say the same thing about a male robber? Doubtful. Just because she's a woman, suddenly there's a excuse that she's doing it for a greater good?
except for the good luck of still having a job I might resort to the same employment agency she has
Why isn't there a picture of this "Blonde Bandit" to accompany this article?! How the heck would I know to call Crime Stoppers before I'm a victim of a crime? I live in this area, and it would be REALLY nice to know her if I see her!!!! Hmmmm...
Their is a picture of her. Can you not see it?
MSNBC just put the picture up...after I made my comment. But, yes, I see it now.
A blond walks into a bank. You would think she would have seen it.
Pictures or it didn't happen
http://www.wusa9.com/news/photo-gallery.aspx?storyid=176276
Never mind ...
Good work being better at reporting than MSNBC.
Kam and Darrel:
Never mind. Thanks Darrel.
SI
Rather disappointing, wasn't it?
The word is "blonde".
Maybe they meant "bland". It fits.
My guess is that the author of the article is also a blonde...tee-hee.
LMAO
Another mother of the year...former gang member, carjackings, robberies...What a fine, upstanding example she is for her children.
I would suggest she is a more upstanding citizen than some of those in office right now. She isn't trying to hide her thievery like the other bunch I am referencing...
Ouch...You are an angry fellow...LOL
this is the true face of welfare...
As she testified against another gang member in a murder trial, I'd think that she on the run for her life, and robbing banks to support herself, and maybe her kids, too! Everyone knows the gangs run the prisons on the inside! {:-(}
I thought MS-13 was a Mexican gang!
MS-13 is a wannabe gang.
"Girls they wanna, wanna gang bang. Girls. Wanna. Wanna gang bang. They just a wanna."
she looks brown haired to me......where did they get blond? because it sounds better in the tag line?
Why don't these idiot victims STOP giving strangers a ride and keep their car doors locked and the windows ROLLED UP! If a stranger approaches you can hear them with your window up...and if you don't know them drive away!
You don't HAVE to be "nice" to anyone, because if they really needed help they could go into a nearby business or similiar public place and call a cab, towtruck, friend, family member, etc.
In this day and age and bad economy, you have to be more careful than you ever were before. Desperate people do very desperate things and you really have to anticipate and suspect danger when dealing with strangers asking for help.
Yes...Fear everyone, and look out for yourself!
Jesus must be spinning in his grave.
I'm willing to bet the kids & the "baby daddy" are not white. I'm sure her parents were good liberals too.
Wow 2001, judgemental much? What evidence do you have that leads you to "bet" that they are "not white"? Also you seem to insinuate that there is something unsavory about "not white." There's such a thing as "white trash" and such a thing as black/ hispanic/ "not white" upstanding citizens. So what exactly is the point in deciding which color these people are or are not?
You're an idiot 2001H1.
still trying to blame non-white people?
I'm sorry but if this crime spree had been committed by a blonde man, there's no way he would have earned the nickname "the blonde bandit." I know it's not the important part of the story, but it bothered me.
It's because girls committing crimes is cute, don-cha-know?
Or because, according to the media, women ARE how they look. This woman looks blonde and therefore that is now her identity. If it was a man, he would be known as something generic, like "The Virginia Hijacker" or Bandit or whatever. He would not be identified by his hair color.
I'm not saying she "deserves" a respectful "nickname", just that women as a whole deserve better treatment from the media.
Of course, for women or men, if there's something wildly unusual about the appearance, that could be a useful identifier to possible victims. The "blue-haired bandit" for instance, would not be offensive to either gender.
Of course, for women or men, if there's something wildly unusual about the appearance, that could be a useful identifier to possible victims. The "blue-haired bandit" for instance, would not be offensive to either gender. Allielcea
Maybe they should call her the tatooed neck bandit?
Scum. I hope they catch this trash and lock her away for a long time.
Once you go black....you're a single mother!
What does this article have to do with black people? Except the victim perhaps being black.
National Geographic did a documentary on MS-13 as the worlds most dangerous gang. If this chick ends up back behind bars she is probably going to be put down.
Judging by her complexion I would say she is a Meth freak.
You can see the lesions she has from scratching at the "crank critters" beneath her skin.
She testified against MS-13. She is a dead woman. They will get to her, especially when she gets caught and sent to prison.
This may be why she is running... Witness Protection probably blew it and she is on her own. Let's get the full story - she sounds desperate.
Headline,"fat white chick steals for a living,provides anchor babies" There is gang grafitti in the middle east from some of our soldiers-did you know that?reported here .Allielcea is the pc police today.Sry culture downgrade! Js husband
Not trying to be "pc" just expressing my opinion. I'm very interested in how the media portrays women which is why I commented on the name and I thought 2001 was ridiculous in his statement so I answered back.
the good news is if the cops don't get her first someone will blow her brains out and the world will be a better place
Community Resources??? Where? They've all been cut thanks to the Regressives. No more hand-outs according to them! Don't you know?????
Yes that's the answer to everything isn't it?