Police return child in its car seat to mother, after car thief ditches child and flees

Police returned a child strapped in his car seat to his mother shortly after a suspect stole the mother's car from a Sun Valley Ralphs grocery store parking lot, with the child in the back seat.

Around 1 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a residence a short distance away, in the 12100 block of Peoria, where the child, still strapped in its car seat, was in the shade, in the driveway of a residence.

The mother said she put her son in the car, and turned the air conditioning on to keep him cool while she loaded groceries in the trunk.

A man took advantage of the situation, and hopped in the running blue Nissan Rogue and drove off.

Landscapers and people at the property where the child was dropped off called police.

Officers drove the child back to his mother, at the Ralphs grocery store on Laurel Canyon and Roscoe boulevards.

The family said they are thankful for this happy ending and the safe return of their son, and want to warn others to be extra careful, especially if there is anyone suspicious about.

The suspect, driving the stolen blue Nissan Rogue, was last seen going southbound on Laurel Canyon Boulevard. Police have not been able to locate the suspect or stolen car yet.