NBC6’s Amanda Plasencia reports from Oakland Park where a man stole a car with a child in it. He is still on the run, but the child has been found safe.
Surveillance video seen Only on 6 shows the moment a man, who is still on the run, stole a car with a three-year-old child inside in Oakland Park.
According to detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit, deputies arrived at an Oakland Park IHOP over reports of a stolen vehicle with a three-year-old boy inside.
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WATCH HERESurveillance video shows the moment a woman arrived to pick up food at an IHOP, located at 3101 W. Oakland Park Blvd. just after 8 a.m. Saturday, and stepped away from her car without the child.
Moments later, the suspect BSO identified as 33-year-old Phillip J. Pepe, Jr., is seen jumping into the car and driving away.
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Surveillance video shows the woman shortly after, food in hand, walking frantically through the parking lot as she realizes her vehicle with her child inside is nowhere to be found.
A few minutes later, BSO deputies arrived at the IHOP parking lot after the woman was seen speaking on the phone.
Luckily deputies found the vehicle moments later with the child unharmed at a gas station at 1901 N.W. 40th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, according to the report.
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“I heard sirens and I figured out that chopper was in the air too and I look outside and see almost eight police pointed down towards this way," said Abid Kahn, who works at the gas station. "And then the police came and said there was a kid inside, probably three years old.”
K-9 units and police helicopters were sent to help search the area, but Pepe abandoned the vehicle and evaded police. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and blue shorts and has a tattoo on his right arm and an abrasion under his left eye.
Pepe was out on bond after he was arrested in Broward on June 15 and charged with multiple counts of drug possession and having an unlawfully issued driver's license. He also has a warrant from 2020 out of Philadelphia and was charged with a DUI in Delaware.
Investigators believe Pepe fled somewhere in Broward County or Palm Beach County. He is wanted for kidnapping, child imprisonment and grand theft auto.
Anyone with information on Pepe's whereabouts is asked to contact BSO Special Victims Unit or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
