Crime & Safety

Kidnapped Baby Found Safe; Suspect Still at Large

A Jeep liberty was stolen Monday morning with a baby inside. The car and baby were found, but the suspect has not been located.

An infant girl who was inside a Jeep Liberty that was stolen from San Jose this morning has been found safe, police said.

The Jeep was found at the Seven Trees Community Center near East Capitol Expressway, a police officer said. Police have not yet released more details about how the car and child were found.

The vehicle was taken at about 6:40 a.m. in the 2300 block of Amador Court, off of Story Road, a few blocks from Interstate Highway 680.

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The mother, Graciella Quintero, had placed her 11-month-old daughter Gabriella in a car seat in the backseat of the Jeep but had not yet strapped her in, San Jose police Sgt. Jason Dwyer said.

Quintero was bringing items from her house to her car and stepped away from the Jeep momentarily, leaving the key in the ignition with the engine off, Dwyer said. When she came back outside she saw the Jeep driving away.

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Her daughter, whose first birthday is in four days, was gone, police said.

She called police, who arrived within three minutes, Dwyer said.

The suspect is believed to be a woman described as white or Hispanic and in her 30s, wearing a dark top and dark pants and carrying a red-and-white Target bag.

Quintero, who is a single mother, did not recognize the suspect but saw her standing nearby before the car was stolen, Dwyer said.

Dwyer said the mother was "understandably shaken."

"It's very difficult to interview someone in that condition," he said.

It is unclear whether the car thief knew there was a baby in the Jeep, but Dwyer said police were treating the case as a stranger abduction.

About 40 San Jose police officers were looking for the Jeep and the girl, and law enforcement agencies throughout the Bay Area were on alert.

The California Highway Patrol was involved, and an aerial search was being
conducted.

The Jeep Liberty was described as white with a spare tire attached to the rear, and a sticker showing two babies kissing each other.

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