Updated at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 12, 2016
Authorities were on the lookout Friday for a thief who stole an Escondido woman’s car — with her 5-month-old daughter inside — from in front of their home, then ditched the sedan several miles away with the infant still in her car seat, unharmed.
The mother made a 911 call about 3 p.m. Thursday to report that her 2014 Toyota Camry had disappeared along with her child after she ran into her apartment on Rock Springs Road for a moment to retrieve something, according to police.
A witness described seeing a man in his 30s with a tattoo on his upper right arm jump into the car and speed off, Lt. Ed Varso said.
Shortly before 4 p.m., officers found the sedan abandoned in a parking lot in the 1500 block of East Grand Avenue. The child remained inside, none the worse for the ordeal, Varso said.
The botched crime of opportunity marked the second time in less than 24 hours that a vehicle was stolen with an infant inside it in the San Diego area.
About 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a woman reported that someone had just taken off in a 2009 Nissan Maxima — with her 18-month-old son inside — from outside a motel in the 600 block of E Street in Chula Vista, according to police in the South Bay city. The theft occurred as the mother and a friend — the owner of the vehicle — were walking to the lobby of the lodge to check in.
About a half-hour later, a man later identified as Steve Luna, 25, contacted police and allegedly admitted to stealing the car before realizing that the boy was along for the ride, asleep in a rear child seat. A short time later, officers found the vehicle in the 500 block of K Avenue with the youngster still inside, unscathed.
Luna was arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of auto theft, child endangerment, being under the influence of a controlled substance and other charges. He was being held in lieu of $110,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
—City News Service
