17-year-old arrested for stealing car with child in it

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The teen wanted in connection with the theft of a car containing a sleeping toddler has now been found.

The 17-year-old, and the stolen car, were found at a home in the Fresno County town of Dunlap. He was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Center and faces felony auto theft, kidnapping, and child endangerment charges.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said the teen boy was is from Ventura, California and had been living at a group home in Fresno -- but had recently run away.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday a man was talking to an employee of the auto repair shop while his car was idling, with a 3-year-old girl taking a nap inside, a short distance away. The suspect then snuck into the car and sped away. About 10 minutes after the car was stolen, a motorist reported a car had dropped off the girl on the side of the road and drove away. She was unharmed.

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