Hunt Continues for Child Predator

Police Friday released security video of a car linked to a child abductor in hopes that it leads to the arrest of the unidentified predator, who kidnapped a 2-year-old girl in Gardena and left her in Cudahy.

Stacy Lopez was kidnapped about 4:55 p.m. Thursday near 149th Street and Western Avenue, where she had wandered away from her mother at a self-serve car wash, Gardena police Chief Ed Medrano said.

The toddler's mother heard her daughter call to her and then she was gone, Medrano said.

The child was dropped off about 7:15 p.m. near Santa Ana Street and Atlantic Avenue in Cudahy and was taken to a hospital to be examined, said Gardena police Lt. Steve Prendergast.

The toddler was treated at the hospital for unspecified injuries she suffered during the abduction, and reunited with her family.

Her condition was not disclosed.

Police believe the child was taken and dropped off by someone in a "clean" white four-door car, possibly a 2008-2012 Nissan Altima with tinted windows.

Authorities Friday released security video that showed the car being driven through an area neighborhood, and police urged anyone with security video possibly related to the case to call them.

"This man is a child predator," Prendergast said. "He is out there, and we need the public's help to find him."

Prendergast said detectives have determined that the suspect is not known to the family.

"This is a 'stranger' abduction -- this is not a 'family' abduction," Prendergast said. "The information that we have is that the victim does not know the suspect."

A "grainy" security video from the area near the crime scene showed the car, Prendergast said, and police were working to enhance the video to determine the license plate number.

Police believe the plate may have been subsequently removed. Anyone within information about the case was urged to call 911 or Gardena police at (310) 323-7911.