SUV with 2 children inside stolen from Tacoma

A young mother stepped outside her SUV in Tacoma on Thursday and a woman jumped into the car, driving off with the mother’s two daughters in the back seat.

Police do not believe the thief realized the two girls, ages 2 and 3, were buckled into car seats.

The 24-year-old mother called 911 about 1:10 p.m. to report the theft in the 4700 block of American Lake Boulevard.

It was not clear what the mother was doing when her Buick Rendezvous was stolen with her daughters inside.

The keys were in the ignition and the driver’s door was partially open so officers believe the mother was within feet of the car at the time of the theft.

“She had just stepped out for a minute,” police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said. “The woman jumped in her car and took off.”

Officers brought search dogs and combed the neighborhood.

The Buick was found parked about five blocks away near 66th Street West and South Ferdinand Street. The girls were still buckled in their car seats and unharmed.

Police are searching for the thief.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 2:39 PM with the headline "SUV with 2 children inside stolen from Tacoma."