A child was returned to his family safely after being kidnapped inside of a stolen vehicle in the San Fernando Valley.
The kidnapping was reported at 7:07 p.m. Monday near Bradley and Oswald Street in Sylmar. A man got into a running vehicle and took off with the 10-year-old inside, according to police.
The child's father said the truck was taken as he dropped something off at a neighbor's house.
"I left the truck in the driveway and honestly it just happened in a second," said the father, who wanted to remain anonymous.
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Two men heard the father's frantic cries and immediately jumped into action. Gernaro Cortes and his brother jumped in their vehicle and attempted to chase down the truck.
The two brothers said the man began driving erratically when he realized they were following him. Just when they thought they had lost him, they noticed the red truck ditched on Jessie Street in San Fernando with the child inside.
"I get out the car, I noticed there’s no guy there — I went straight to the kid, he was just shocked," said Cortes. "He doesn’t really know me. He saw my brother and he was like 'ok,' he unlocked the car and I grab him and he just breaks down and I have two kids so I was just broken down."
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The boy was reunited with his father who was grateful for his neighbors who chased down the kidnapper and didn't give up.
"Thank God, the boy is safe and sound because they rescued him in less than 20 minutes," said the father.
No arrests were made and a description of the kidnapper was not immediately available. The LAPD is leading the investigation.
