2 women robbed inside Columbia mall bathroom. Suspect then went on shopping spree

A woman has been arrested and accused of robbing two others inside a public bathroom at Dutch Square Center.

The woman, 24-year-old Mya Kadijah Bannister, stole valuables from two other women at gunpoint, according to the Columbia Police Department.

The incident happened on Jan. 14 in a Dutch Square bathroom, police said. Bannister is accused of stealing phones and wallets containing credit cards, and making fraudulent purchases worth more than $640 at various stores.

Police say Bannister told the women not to move or leave the bathroom after the crime occurred. The victims were not injured.

In addition to kidnapping, Bannister is charged with:

▪  two counts of financial transaction card theft;

▪  five counts of financial transaction card fraud;

▪  two counts of armed robbery; and

▪  two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Bannister is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 10:11 PM with the headline "2 women robbed inside Columbia mall bathroom. Suspect then went on shopping spree."