Woman Suspected in "Plain Jane" Bank Robberies Arrested After Tip Received

The suspected "Plain Jane Bandit," wanted for six bank robberies and two failed attempts in Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties, is now behind bars, the FBI announced today.

Sylvia Helen Garcia, 38, was arrested near her Downey home late Thursday afternoon after the FBI received tips from people who had seen surveillance photos that had been displayed in media reports, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

At the time, Garcia was driving a silver vehicle that matched the description provided by witnesses to some of the bank heists, Eimiller said. Additional evidence allegedly tying Garcia to the robberies was also recovered during the arrest, she said.

Garcia is being held at the Lakewood Sheriff's Station and is expected to be charged Monday, Eimiller said.

The Plain Jane Bandit is believed responsible for a series of robberies that began July 12 in Santa Fe Springs and included heists or attempted holdups in Wildomar, Whittier, Moreno Valley, and Buena Park, Eimiller said. The latest robbery took place in Cerritos on Tuesday, following a failed attempt the day before in Downey.

During the robberies, the suspect demanded cash from tellers, in some cases specifying amounts of several hundred dollars, according to Eimiller.

The suspect also indicated that an accomplice was waiting for her outside the bank, but was probably working alone, Eimiller said.

Witnesses described the suspect as an Latino woman between 35 and 40 years old, driving what was described as a four-door, silver vehicle.

During an interview with a witness to one of the earlier robberies, the thief's appearance was described as that of a "plain jane," thus giving the bank robber a catchy nickname, Eimiller said.