Arrest Announcement Update NR19032ml

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau Detectives have arrested 34-year-old Mandy Xing.

On Saturday, February 2, 2019 around 2:15 p.m. LAPD Pacific Division officers responded to a call of a stolen vehicle in the 13400 block of Maxella Avenue. A mother had left her 20- month-old child in her running vehicle while she entered a shoe store at the location. When she returned, she discovered her car and child were missing.

Minutes after the mother went into the shoe store, a suspect heard the car running and stole the vehicle, leaving eastbound on Glencoe Avenue.

The vehicle was described as a gray 2017 Honda, CRV, SUV.

Pacific Officers initiated an Amber Alert, called local media, and began an organized search for the vehicle.

At about 5 p.m. officers located the abandoned vehicle 1.6 miles away near the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Lake Street. The suspect had fled on foot. The child was in the car and apparently unharmed.

Detectives conducted an active investigation and recovered video from the area. After reviewing video the Detectives observed that the suspect had short hair with a unique bald spot on the suspect’s head. On Thursday, February 7, 2019, these same Detectives saw the suspect, who closely fit the description of the video images in the 4000 block of Del Rey Avenue. The suspect was arrested without incident.

The suspect, identified as a homeless person, Mandy Xing, Female Asian, 34 years of age, admitted to stealing the car for purposes of a joy ride and denied knowing the child was in the car until after she took the car. Upon discovering the child, the suspect claimed she abandoned the car at Lincoln and Lake.

On February 11, 2019, this case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for filing consideration. The District Attorney filed one count against Xing for Taking a Vehicle without Owner’s Consent, 10851 V.C.

A report of child endangerment was referred to the City Attorney for the mother’s actions in leaving the child in the running car. Parents are reminded to never leave their children unattended, especially in a running car.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call West Bureau Detectives at 213-473-0277. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit ww.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.