Police Seek Suspects Who Stole Truck With Sleeping Child Inside

By City News Service

Authorities Thursday were searching for two suspects who stole a pickup truck with a child inside, then abandoned the vehicle a short time later in Lake Elsinore.

Deputies responded at 2:08 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a vehicle theft and kidnapping in the 17300 block of De Brask Avenue, sheriff’s Sgt. David Cardoza said.

The owner briefly left his Toyota truck unattended in front of his home with the engine on and a child asleep in the back seat, Cardoza said. A man and woman walked up, got into the truck and drove off, he said.

Deputies set up a perimeter and searched the area with a helicopter and police dog. The helicopter crew spotted the stolen truck, which had been abandoned in the 29800 block of Clement Street, with the child unharmed inside, Cardoza said.

One of the suspects was described as an Hispanic man in his 20s, with a medium build, tattoos on both arms and wearing dark clothing. His companion was a white woman in her 20s, with a thin build, blond hair with black roots and wearing a black hoodie.

Anyone with information about their identities or whereabouts was asked to call the sheriff’s Lake Elsinore station at (951) 245-3300.