Steven Henshaw: 18-year-old arrested in robbery of wallet, keys from a woman holding a baby at Berks store
Jun. 6—An 18-year-old was arrested shortly after Muhlenberg Township police said he stole a wallet and keys from a woman as she was walking into the Temple Walmart while holding her baby, investigators said Monday.
Bryan Mendoza of Reading was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment Friday night before Senior District Judge Gloria W. Stitzel in Reading Central Court. Mendoza of the 1200 block of Church Street faces charges of robbery and reckless endangerment.
Muhlenberg police provided the following account:
About 2:20 p.m. Friday, police were dispatched for a report of a robbery in progress at Walmart, 5370 Allentown Pike.
While en route, police learned the suspect had fled in a tan van.
An officer spoke to the victim in a restaurant in the shopping center. She said the assailant came up behind her and took her wallet and keys from her hand while she was holding her baby.
The suspect got into a van that left the shopping center.
A store loss prevention officer showed the officer video footage of the suspect in a Honda Odyssey minivan.
Moments after putting out that description, another Muhlenberg officer said he had the stopped a vehicle matching that description.
The victim identified the occupant, Mendoza, as the person who robbed her.
It was unclear if police recovered her wallet and keys.
