ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (KWQC/Gray News) – An Amber Alert has been issued for a 4-year-old girl who authorities said was inside a vehicle that was stolen early Thursday.
Police Chief Tim McCloud said Blessing Aoci’s mother put her in a booster seat in the running car around 6:10 a.m. and went back to the house to get another child.
When she returned the car was gone, he said.
“It can happen in seconds,” said McCloud, adding to not put blame on the mother.
Rock Island police said in a Facebook post that the running vehicle was stolen by an unknown suspect.
Authorities found the car around 6:25 a.m., but Blessing and her booster seat were gone.
Officials believe the young girl was taken to another vehicle.
McCloud said they are searching for a white, two-door coupe Dodge Dart with the license plate EG9 2693.
Blessing is about 3 feet tall and weighs around 50 lbs. She was wearing a pink jacket, pink boots and blue pants.
Blessing is a student in their Headstart program at Rock Island Academy, according to a Rock Island-Milan schools representative.
Police said all available resources are being dedicated to finding the missing child, including assistance from surrounding agencies, door-to-door canvassing, searching using drones with heat sensors, and using security cameras and license plate readers.
McCloud said there were seven vehicles reported stolen overnight, more than usual. They do not know if any of these vehicles would have been used in the kidnapping.
The Dart was stolen out of Rock Island, but it was last seen in East Moline at 1:17 a.m.
Anyone with information is asked to call Rock Island police or Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities.
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