Woman steals car with autistic Southern California teen in it, sparking Amber Alert

Los Angeles sheriff's officials say a woman stole a car outside a fast-food restaurant in Paramount without realizing there was an autistic teen in the vehicle.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARAMOUNT - Los Angeles sheriff's officials say a woman stole a car outside a fast-food restaurant in Paramount without realizing there was an autistic teen in the vehicle.

Sheriff's Lt. Charles Calderaro says Friday that 17-year-old Frank Barboa was in the back seat of a black 2015 Honda Civic when his sister went into a Jack in the Box and left the keys in the car.

He says a woman hopped in the driver's seat and drove off. Calderaro says the woman was "kind" to Barboa and he wasn't harmed.

The car was abandoned about 2 miles from the restaurant. Barboa, who has the mental capacity of a 12-year-old, was able to take a bus home.

Calderaro says investigators are looking for the woman.

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