BUENA PARK, Calif.—A 40-year-old woman is in police custody and suspected of arson in connection to a Target store in Buena Park, authorities said on Sept. 13.
Cynthia Torres was arrested on Sept. 12, according to the Buena Park Police Department. According to the department, Ms. Torres allegedly started the fire as a ruse to steal baby formula.
The fire was reported around 7 p.m. on Sept. 5 and Orange County Fire Authority firefighters responded to the store at 7530 Orangethorpe Ave. and Western Avenue where they discovered store employees helped extinguish the fire, but the store was filled with smoke, ABC7 reported.
Firefighters then began evacuating the shoppers in the store.
Police said Orange County Fire Authority arson investigators and Buena Park police conducted a joint investigation and identified Ms. Torres as a suspect .
According to police, the damage to the store is estimated to be $500,000 and $1 million in retail loss, primarily due to water and smoke damage.