In a peculiar twist of events, a young boy and a dog found themselves unexpectedly abandoned in a car after an attempted vehicle theft went awry. The incident unfolded when a suspect tried, but ultimately failed, to steal a car in Los Angeles, leaving authorities and the community puzzled by the mystery surrounding the child and his four-legged companion.

The Los Angeles Police Department was alerted by the vehicle’s owner, who reported the attempted car theft. The would-be thief, however, chose to flee the scene, leaving behind the key figures of this bizarre tale—a toddler, estimated to be around two years old, and a dog. “The victim then observed that an approximately 2-year-old child and a dog were left behind in the victim’s vehicle,” stated the department.

Despite an extensive search conducted by officers in the vicinity, the suspect managed to evade capture, leaving no clues as to his identity or intentions. More perplexingly, efforts to identify the child through various channels have hit a dead end. As police continue their investigation, they have yet to hear from any parent or family member stepping forward to claim the child.

The Los Angeles Police Department has reached out to the public for assistance, hoping someone might provide information that could lead to the identification of the child and reunite him with his family. Until then, the mystery of the abandoned child and dog in a stolen car remains unsolved, capturing the attention and concern of the local community.

“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,” police said.

The child has been placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, and the dog — who “appeared familiar with the child” — was handed over to Los Angeles County Animal Services.

Police provided pictures of the child and the dog and described the boy has having “a medium complexion and curly brown hair” and “wearing a light gray quarter-zip sweater.”

The dog appeared familiar with the child and was placed in the care of Los Angeles County Animal Services.

Anyone with information should contact police at (323) 561-3211 or the DCFS Hotline at (800) 540-4000.