3-year-old child taken with stolen car found safe near Chowchilla, Merced police say

A frantic search for a 3-year-old girl abducted during a car theft ended with the child being reunited with her family Monday night.

An Amber Alert was issued for Jessie Sanchez after an unidentified suspect took the girl and the car she was seated inside.

Merced police believe the incident was a crime of opportunity, as the thief took the car from the 400 block of West 27th Street at 6:45 p.m. while the child’s mother was briefly inside her home.

The mother had left the car, a 2002 Toyota Corolla, running and went inside the grab her purse. When the mother returned her car was gone — and along with it, the child who was the passenger, police said. The vehicle was last seen traveling south from the location it was stolen.

Police do not believe the abductor knew the girl’s family. No suspect information was available Monday evening, and that person remains at large.

“It just shows you that crimes of opportunity can happen in a split second,” Capt. Jay Struble said, adding that parents should never leave children unattended.

A multi-agency search for Jessie was launched. At 8:37 p.m. California Highway Patrol informed Merced police that a caller had spotted the vehicle on the southbound off ramp of Robertson Boulevard in Chowchilla, near the Chevron gas station..

CHP and Chowchilla police responded to the scene, forced entry into the car and removed Jessie from the vehicle. She had no injuries, and was reunited with her family shortly afterward, police said.

Police as of press time Tuesday were still searching for the suspect in the case. Anyone with information should call 209-385-6905. Tips are confidential and you can remain anonymous.

This story was originally published October 26, 2020 at 8:23 PM.