Woman Arrested After Shoplifting Turns Into Armed Robbery at Pasadena Grocery Store 

Police arrested a woman on suspicion of robbery Saturday after she allegedly threatened a manager with an 18-inch-long bolt while stealing items from a Pasadena grocery store, officials said.

The crime unfolded just after 9 a.m. at Ralphs, 320 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Burgess said.

A manager spotted a woman trying to leave the store without paying for merchandise and confronted her at the door, he said.

The woman pulled out an 18-inch-long metal bolt and threatened the manager with it before continuing on her way with the stolen items, according to the lieutenant.

Police soon spotted the woman in a nearby alley, he said. Both the merchandise and the bolt were recovered.

Sarah Ashley Mays, 25, described as a transient known to frequent Pasadena, was booked on suspicion of armed robbery, according to police and Los Angeles County booking records.

She was released from custody later in the day pending further investigation, records show.