'Blonde Bandit' Apprehended In Virginia

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WJZ) -- She's known as the "blonde bandit" and is believed to be responsible for a series of carjackings and bank robberies from here to Virginia. Now she's behind bars.

Kai Jackson explains police say they caught her in the act.

Stephanie Lynn Schwab is facing numerous charges right now, yet as the investigation continues, it could uncover even more crimes.

Fairfax County Police say Schwab was arrested Wednesday afternoon after she tried to rob a BB&T Bank in McClean around 1 p.m. Police say something went wrong and Schwab fled the scene, driving away without any money.

"This particular case, we were really serious about making an arrest, making an apprehension," said Lucy Caldwell, Fairfax County Police.

A Fairfax County police officer followed Schwab into Montgomery County. They say she wrecked a stolen car, fled on foot and was caught and arrested after a brief chase.

Police say Schwab---who's 26 and 5'6"---robbed banks and carjacked people.

One of her alleged crimes happened in the parking lot of a supermarket on Route 40 in Baltimore County on Thanksgiving day.

"This woman asked for a ride. Our victim was nice enough to give her a ride down the street to an additional grocery store that was in the area to where she was going and that's when our suspect pulled a knife," said Cathy Batton, Baltimore County Police.

She's been called the "blonde bandit," but police found nothing funny about her alleged crimes. Now Schwab is in custody facing charges in a crime spree that spans the Baltimore/Washington region.

"Just heard an alarm going off and some lady was running outta the bank beside us," a witness said.

Police say they don't know why Schwab was in Baltimore County during Thanksgiving. They say she had no known connection to the area.