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

[Knox]

<modsnip: Image of minor child removed>

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.

 

[katydid23]

View attachment 634058

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

He's adorable. He looks healthy. Where's his Mama?
The dog looks well cared for too. What happened?

Did this car thief steal the baby from Mom after harming her?

 

[Lebowski]

weird case. who brings their kid and dog along on a car theft? and who leaves them behind over fear of their own arrest??

my first thought is drugs being involved here. or mental illness. or just a really dumb perp. ..... maybe the mom's bf, and not the biological father?

"hey, can you take the kid and dog for a walk? i need a half hour of quiet."
"sure."
(5 minutes later)
"oh cool, a car to steal!"
"HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"oh no, i can't get arrested again. sorry, kid, you'd just slow me down."

whatever the story, if it were my job to find the boy's parents, i'd go slow and do bad job. i suspect he's better off in the care of the state.

 

[katydid23]

Mother arrested after toddler left behind during attempted car theft in Highland Park, police say

The mother of a nearly 2-year-old boy has been arrested after the child was left behind in an attempted car theft in Highland Park, police confirmed Wednesday.

abc7.com

HIGHLAND PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The 19-year-old mother of a nearly 2-year-old boy has been arrested after the child was left behind in an attempted car theft in Highland Park, police confirmed Wednesday.

The toddler's mother, Bianca Slaughter, was taken into custody and booked on felony charges, but the Los Angeles Police Department did not specify what the charges were.

Her arrest comes after a man on Sunday reported that someone was trying to steal his car on North Avenue 52. The would-be thief ran away, but the car owner was surprised to see a young boy in his car, along with a dog.

The incident prompted a search for the boy's family, but the LAPD said that nobody had come forward. On Wednesday, the LAPD said the child was identified, as well as his biological parents.

The toddler will remain in custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.

Meanwhile, the dog who was found is in the care of Los Angeles County Animal Services, with no license tag or microchip.

 

[katydid23]

Toddler abandoned in Highland Park vehicle is identified by authorities, mother taken into custody

Los Angeles Police Department detectives said with help from the community, the 1 ½-year-old child located by officers on Dec. 28th has been identified, as well as his biological parents.

www.cbsnews.com

Authorities have identified the toddler who was abandoned in a vehicle earlier this week by a man who allegedly broke into it.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives said with help from the community, the 1 ½-year-old child located by officers on Dec. 28th has been identified, as well as his biological parents.

The child's mother, Bianca Slaughter, a 19-year-old Los Angeles resident, was taken into custody on Tuesday and booked on felony charges.

On Sunday, around 10 a.m., a man called police after noticing an unknown man sitting inside his vehicle in Highland Park. He also saw a dog roaming nearby, and when he confronted the stranger in the car, he saw a toddler sitting in a car seat.

The man inside the vehicle told the car's owner that he and the child were running away from the dog, which was trying to attack them. The stranger then ran off and left the child behind before the police arrived.

The officers initially expressed skepticism about the stranger's story, as the dog appeared familiar with the child, staying close to him during the ordeal.

 

[Lebowski]

lol, happy new year's, bianca! your man's a trashy idiot, your kid and dog have been taken away, and you're going to jail!

 

[Lebowski]

i do wonder what the charges against her are

 

[katydid23]

Why was mom arrested?

I'm going to guess that a tip came in, telling LE where the baby and the dog lived. LE went to that location, and found Mom high on drugs, and they confiscated the loot and arrested her on parental negligence and drug possession.

 

[Megnut]

Toddler abandoned in Highland Park vehicle is identified by authorities, mother taken into custody

Los Angeles Police Department detectives said with help from the community, the 1 ½-year-old child located by officers on Dec. 28th has been identified, as well as his biological parents.

www.cbsnews.com

Authorities have identified the toddler who was abandoned in a vehicle earlier this week by a man who allegedly broke into it.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives said with help from the community, the 1 ½-year-old child located by officers on Dec. 28th has been identified, as well as his biological parents.

The child's mother, Bianca Slaughter, a 19-year-old Los Angeles resident, was taken into custody on Tuesday and booked on felony charges.

On Sunday, around 10 a.m., a man called police after noticing an unknown man sitting inside his vehicle in Highland Park. He also saw a dog roaming nearby, and when he confronted the stranger in the car, he saw a toddler sitting in a car seat.

The man inside the vehicle told the car's owner that he and the child were running away from the dog, which was trying to attack them. The stranger then ran off and left the child behind before the police arrived.

The officers initially expressed skepticism about the stranger's story, as the dog appeared familiar with the child, staying close to him during the ordeal.

You can't make this up.

Bianca, get it together. Yesterday.

 

[Knox]

You can't make this up.

Bianca, get it together. Yesterday.

This is one instance where the crime was actually a good thing. If dum dum hadn’t left that sweet little man behind. He might have been in much greater danger, given Mom was arrested for a felony.

I hope they placed him in a very loving home and CPS keeps tabs on him for years to come!!

Anyone interested in that awesome dog?

 

[Coppertop15]

At least she had the car seat? This is extremely weird.

 

[Spectrix]

It seems that the mother of this poor kid has been a very naughty girl, even without her son being left in a random car.

According to police, 19-year-old Bianca Slaughter was arrested for kidnapping in an unrelated case to the child. That case involves the alleged kidnapping of an adult involving some type of gang activity.
Authorities said they will pursue charges connected to child abandonment and/or child endangerment in connection with the toddler.

The suspect who fled from the scene Sunday is not the child's father, according to Fox11, which reported that the suspect allegedly used baby wipes to remove his fingerprints from inside the car.

Mother of child abandoned in car with dog in Highland Park arrested

19-year-old Bianca Slaughter was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping in an unrelated case.

www.foxla.com

 

[PromotedPawn]

I think the baby would be better off in the care of the dog at this point. Sweet pup stayed with baby and kept him safe. I love animals

 

[Spectrix]

I think the baby would be better off in the care of the dog at this point. Sweet pup stayed with baby and kept him safe. I love animals

I was thinking the same thing.
I so much wish that the two could have been placed together. I have no idea what the living situation was like for this kid and the puppy before this event, but I don't imagine it was good at all.
I feel that those two were quite a comfort for each other.