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AMBER ALERT: Two children abducted during car theft, later found in abandoned car

Posted at 9:41 PM, Mar 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-24 19:33:37-04

Two children that were abducted Thursday when a vehicle they were in was stolen have been found.

An Amber Alert was issued Thursday for Carlos Cortez, 2, and Jayden Cortez,1; both were inside the vehicle as it was stolen. The Riverside Sheriff's Department found the children just before 3 a.m. safe inside the stolen car, which had been abandoned in Desert Springs.

The two boys have been reunited with their family.

Cathedral City Police say an unknown person stole a white Honda Accord at 6:44 p.m. in the 31500 block of Whispering Palms.

Police say the owner oft the car is a babysitter who stepped out of the vehicle, according to our affiliate KABC. When she came back, the car was gone.  

The 2-year-old's name is Carlos Cortez. He is a Hispanic male described as two feet tall, 40 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. The 1-year-old boy is Jayden Cortez. He is a Hispanic male described as 1 foot 5 inches tall, 30 pounds with brown hair and eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue shorts. 

At this time, police aren't sure why the babysitter stepped out of the car.

The Amber Alert was issued by the California Highway Patrol on behalf of the Cathedral City Police Department. It is effect for the counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego. 

If you know anything, call 911 or The Cathedral City Police at (760) 770-0303.