Cops: Woman tried to kidnap newborn in tote bag

(CBS News) GARDEN GROVE, Calif. - A woman was arrested after police said she took a newborn infant from a mother as they lay in a hospital bed and tried to take the baby out of the building in a large tote bag.

Police officers were sent to the Garden Grove Medical Center at about 10 a.m. Monday to investigate the attempted kidnapping of the newborn baby girl.

The suspect, 48-year-old Grisel Ramirez of Garden Grove, posed as a hospital employee when she walked into the mother and infant's room, police told CBS Station KCAL.

The suspect, who wore hospital scrubs along with a visitor's pass, walked into the maternity ward, where she was questioned by a nurse. Ramirez left, but then walked upstairs to the fifth floor, where mothers and newborns stay.

There she suggested to one mother that she take a shower in preparation for a doctor's visit, Garden Grove Police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said.

While the mother was in the shower, Ramirez placed the newborn into a large tote bag she had brought with her and walked out of the hospital room, he said.

As soon as the suspect entered another part of the hospital, an electronic sensor attached to the baby girl's right ankle set off alarms, which alerted hospital staff. The alarm also automatically locked the doors, preventing the kidnapper's escape.

Grisel Ramirez, 48, is seen in custody Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, after she was caught trying to steal a newborn girl from a Southern California hospital in a tote bag.

/ CbS/AP/Garden Grove Police

Hospital employees stopped the suspect and recovered the girl, who was safely returned to her mother.

The baby was not injured.

The suspect has been uncooperative and would not correctly identify herself, Nightengale said.

KCAL correspondent Stacey Butler says police do not understand why Ramirez - who is undocumented but has lived in the area for 20 years and has raised a family - would attempt to kidnap a newborn.

Detectives said this was not Ramirez's first attempt at kidnapping a baby.

Last week, at Western medical Center in Anaheim, a woman fitting Ramirez's description entered the facility. There she began questioning an expectant mother.

Her behavior was enough to raise suspicions, and a police alert with Ramirez's photo and description was circulated.

Butler says Ramirez could face life in prison.

[Behrooz_Navaii]

She must be sick minded individual but, somebody said kill her. another says she was illegal after all. Well, pal, wasn't it another governor (Pete Wilson I think) who was one of such grand legal citizens only folks propagandist but it turned out his wife still has had such a servant? Isn't cheap labor/globalization our heavy destiny while we owe over 13 trillion bucks to the world? Imagine if we spend less in military and had better health services many things wouldn't end up like this. Someone is astounded about such behaviour. well, I am not a woman but, cannot you imagine that a woman who could not have had a child of herself perhaps she has felt betrayed by destiny/god/angels/whatever she believed in and she wanted to grow a child from zero? But to any such people I warn also that, Mom's natural milk is the best source for her own child's immune system. You need a child? go adopt one from a foster house and then even receive some kind of financial support too. but if you have not had gone through pain and difficulty of child's birth how dare you to touch another mother's fruit of life?

[AnnieDanny]

IMO this is one of the most disgusting, appalling, contemptible and repulsive crimes a person can do: stealing a baby. I could use a few more descriptive words as well. There's no way I can understand it, I don't understand selfishness on this scale.

[jktharippa1]

"Ileagal" alien? I don't take legal advice from someone who can't spell illegal.

[fredisalive]

mctrog007, take your medication and turn off that propaganda "news network" and read something!

[Davisrad]

I think mctrog007's comment related more to the statement that this lady is undocumented but has been living in the area for 20 years. Why is she still here?

I'm just happy that the hospital has procedures in place (tagging the infant, lockdown procedures, etc.) to prevent this type of crime from happening. Bravo to them for thwarting her plans!