A child has been found safe after the vehicle she was in was stolen in Pittsburg, and a woman has been arrested in the crime, the police department confirmed.
According to a social media post, the child was found safe just before 8 p.m. Thursday. On Friday morning, acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, police arrested 24-year-old Nataly Ayala on suspicion of kidnapping and vehicle theft, according to the police department.
At about 5:45 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a business at 95 Bliss Ave. on reports of a vehicle theft with a child still inside.
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Upon arrival to the scene, officers were told the father of the child got out of his running vehicle to talk to another man. The child was safe and secured inside the vehicle and the father was only feet away from it.
While the two men were talking, a woman approached them asking for a cigarette, to which they replied they didn't. Shortly after, the woman walked towards the running car, got inside it and began driving away before the men could stop her.
Hours later, an anonymous caller spotted the vehicle and contacted police to alert them.
"Crying, screaming and crying," the caller said. "And then they looked in there, flashed the lights and the baby was in there. The door was open and they got the baby out."
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Family members and police officers took the toddler to the police department for a medical check.
Friends and family were shaken up and did not want to talk to NBC Bay Area but said they're happy the child is safe.
Authorities were able to obtain surveillance video from the business, which helped with tracking down the vehicle and identifying Ayala.
"Thanks to the quick work by the Pittsburg community, just after 7:30 p.m., the car was located abandoned near Army Street with the child safe inside and uninjured," police said in a post. "The child was reunited with her family. "
Ayala is being held at Contra Costa County jail in Martinez pending a review of the charges by the District Attorney's Office, police said.
