It happened on Rain Drop Circle in Pittsburg. Police have been searching the neighborhood and paying visits to known sex offenders in the area, but the man is still out there and police want to find him now because if he fits the profile, he's likely to strike again.
Police officers comforted the distraught mother after the incident. Earlier, she saw a man snatch her 2- year-old daughter from her front yard just before 2 p.m.
"From what we're told, the way the suspect approached the residence, he initially would not initially have seen anybody else other than the 2-year-old," said Pittsburg Police Lt. Ron Roman.
Police say the toddler's mother was just 10 feet away, but hidden by the family car and just as the suspect grabbed the child and ran, he realized her mom was right there.
"The mother was also in the yard, began giving chase to the suspect, yelling at him and also threatening that she was going to call the police. This, we believe, frightened the suspect. He dropped the 2-year-old into the bushes and fled the area on foot," said Roman.
The child's father came home from work to find police with search dogs combing the area. Neighbors say the couple has three children.
"That family is such a good family. Just sweet, always outside playing around. They always have adult supervision, so this is unheard of. This is unbelievable," said neighbor Christine Smedley.
"It scares me to think a man like this is walking around anywhere. I would love to catch him. I would love to catch him," said neighbor Robert Thompson.
The 2-year-old girl was not physically injured.
The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s, clean shaven with collar-length dirty blond hair. He was wearing blue jeans and a green shirt. If you think you know who this person is, please call the Pittsburg police at the tip line number because the biggest concern now is that he'll try to kidnap another child.
Pittsburg Police Tip Line: (925) 427-7369
