We imagine that most cat-burglars opt for inconspicuous clothing or perhaps a subtle disguise when they’re out on the prowl, but one alleged local thief decided to go a decidedly different direction with her criminal uniform. She allegedly broke into two area homes while wearing a green and yellow bikini.
Perhaps she assumed nobody would suspect a swimwear-clad figure to be plotting a heist—after all, there isn’t much room to hide away the loot—but ultimately, the plan backfired on her. Caught on the security footage of one of the Lancaster and Lake Hughes-area homes she hit, her revealing attire made her easy to identify. LA Weekly reports that, within an hour of the Sheriff’s Department releasing a bulletin with her photograph, the suspect was ID'd.
She appears to be sporting a bandage on her left leg above some type of ankle bracelet, either of which might have been a telling clue. At a minimum, both raise all sorts of additional questions to us arm-chair detectives. Is that where she stores the tools she reportedly used to force her way into one of the homes? Also questionable is that she donned a mismatched top and bottom for her escapades, not even taking the time to find a matched bikini for what has now become her moment of fame.
While she is not currently in custody, authorities seem confident about the prospects of closing the case. In the end, we’re left with a reminder that crime doesn’t pay—and your swimwear belongs at the pool.
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department