CA - Highland Park, LAPD seeks help identifying young boy found in car with dog after attempted theft - 28 Dec 2025

[Knox]

HIGHLAND PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police are seeking the public's help in identifying a young child who was left behind, along with a dog, following an attempted car theft.

It all unfolded Sunday morning after a victim reported that a man tried to steal his car on North Avenue 52 in Highland Park, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The suspect ran away, but to the car owner's surprise, an approximately 2-year-old boy and a dog were there inside his car. Officers searched the area for the suspect but could not find him.

LAPD seeks help identifying young boy found in car with dog after attempted theft

Los Angeles police are seeking the public's help in identifying a young child who was left behind, along with a dog, following an attempted car theft.

abc7.com

 

[Knox]

Authorities in Los Angeles are investigating a heartbreaking case involving a child who was left behind during an attempted car theft Sunday morning.

Shortly before 10 a.m., LAPD officers responded to reports of an attempted grand theft in the 300 block of North Avenue 52 in Highland Park.

“The victim reported that an unidentified Hispanic male had tried to steal his vehicle and fled on foot,” police said.

“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,” LAPD said.

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/child-2-abandoned-during-failed-car-theft-in-los-angeles/

 

[LadyL]

wow, the attempted theft victim may well have saved this toddler's life and the dog too

 

[kanns66]

Poor little man

 

[Spyralflare]

I’m not understanding the logistics of how the boy and dog got into the car. The man tried to steal the other guy’s car then ran away? So how and when did the car owner leave the area and return to find the thief gone and these two in his car?

 

[Spectrix]

I’m not understanding the logistics of how the boy and dog got into the car. The man tried to steal the other guy’s car then ran away? So how and when did the car owner leave the area and return to find the thief gone and these two in his car?

The way I picture this was that the man, during the process of stealing the car, loaded his kid & dog into the car, but was disturbed before driving away. He subsequently opted to flee the area without his child and dog rather than face possible capture and a slap on the wrist for attempted car theft.

 

[Knox]

The way I picture this was that the man, during the process of stealing the car, loaded his kid & dog into the car, but was disturbed before driving away. He subsequently opted to flee the area without his child and dog rather than face possible capture and a slap on the wrist for attempted car theft.

That’s exactly what happened. So very sad that no one has reported him missing or came to get him.

It’s been said the dog acts like he knows the child. Now they are separated, that makes me sad also.