Escondido CA— Thursday afternoon just after 3:00, the Escondido Police Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a mother who reported that her car had just been stolen, with her five month old daughter inside.
The mother told responding officers that she was leaving her residence in the 1000 block of Rock Springs Rd. The mother had placed her baby in the car seat when she realized that she had forgotten something inside. The mother quickly ran inside and picked up the item that she had forgotten. In the short amount of time that it took the mother to run inside, an unknown suspect stole her vehicle with the baby still in the car seat.
A child in the neighborhood witnessed the theft. Escondido police officers, detectives, allied agency personnel, and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department helicopter all responded quickly and began an extensive search for the 2014 Toyota Camry. Approximately forty-five minutes later a citizen called police with a possible sighting of the stolen car in the area of Grand Ave. and Rose St. Officers converged on the area and within a few minutes found the stolen car abandoned in a parking lot at 1501 E. Grand Ave. The baby was found safe and still seated in the car seat. The baby was okay and returned to her parents.
A search for the suspect was conducted, but he was not located. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male in his 30’s with a medium height and build. He was wearing a white T-shirt, dark colored pants, with an unknown tattoo appearing under his right shirt sleeve.
Detectives are investigating and encouraging anyone with information about this case to call Escondido Police at 760-839-4722, or leave an anonymous tip at 760-743-TIPS (8477).
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Anonymous tips can me made through the department website at: http://police.escondido.org/ or via the Anonymous Tip Line at 760.743.TIPS (8477).