Video Released Of Suspect Who Stole Truck With Child Inside
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Fort Lauderdale police have released surveillance video of a man, possibly a teenager, wanted for stealing a truck with a child still in the backseat.
Police say the theft took place on Sunday, November 25 in broad daylight. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon when the truck's owner arrived home in the upscale Rio Vista neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale.
The Ford F-150 was in the driveway with the 2-year-old child in the backseat.
"The victims were removing items from the truck, the victim',s vehicle is a Ford F-150 truck, as they were removing the items, shortly, less than a minute later they turned back around and the vehicle's gone," said Fort Lauderdale Police Det. Tracy Figone.
Investigators believe after stealing the truck the crook realized he got more than he planned, so he stopped a block away and ran.
"The suspect intentionally stole this vehicle, but we believe possibly when he discovered there was a young child in the back seat he abandoned the vehicle," said Figone.
The victim spotted the truck, abandoned, just south of the home.
The child was still in the backseat and unharmed.
Police say this serves as a reminder that it only takes a moment for something potentially tragic to happen.
"We do want to remind everyone, regardless if its a second, a minute, it's important not to leave your children unattended in the vehicle. Being that they were in their own home in their own driveway, you would think this would be okay. But its important to remind ourselves never leave a child unattended," said Figone.
The suspect was seen running westbound from the vehicle wearing a dark colored hoodie.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or may know the identity of the suspect is encouraged to contact Fort Lauderdale Detective H. Saint-Jean at 954-828-5573 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).