The Los Angeles Police Department and county Department of Children and Family Services sought the public’s assistance Monday identifying a child who was found inside a vehicle connected to an attempted auto theft in the Highland Park area.
LAPD officers responded around 9:55 a.m. Sunday to the 300 block of North Avenue 52 on reports of an attempted grand theft, police said.
The car’s owner saw a man trying to steal his vehicle before fleeing the area on foot, police said. The owner then found a child and a dog inside his vehicle.
Details about the child were limited, with DCFS social workers responding to the scene to take the child into custody.
Detectives searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
“Efforts to identify the child through all available means have been unsuccessful, and no custodial parent or family member has contacted the police to locate the child,” according to the LAPD.
The child was described as a medium-complexion boy with curly brown hair, wearing a light gray quarter-zip sweater.
According to police, the dog appeared familiar with the child, but was taken into the custody of Los Angeles County Animal Services. Anyone with information regarding the child, his family, or any additional details about the attempted theft and the suspect was urged to contact the LAPD Northeast Division at 323-561-3211 or Detective Ryan Lamar by email at 39284@lapd.online.
The DCFS Hotline can be reached at 800-540-4000. Calls made during non-business hours or weekends should be directed to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.