Police arrest man suspected of stealing car with two kids inside over Christmas

Police have arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of stealing a car with two children inside over Christmas in Mountain View.

The incident was reported around 7:30 p.m. Sunday by a woman who told police that she had parked and rushed to the grocery store for food while two girls, aged 7 and 13, remained in the car.

When she was inside the store, in the area of ​​​​Dana and Castro streets, a man who was in the same store allegedly got into the Toyota and began to leave.

The girls in the back seat started screaming and the suspect, later identified as Francisco Reynoso, reportedly told the girls to get out of the car, which they did.

After that, he left and the police were able to track the car to Palo Alto and stopped it at Wilton Avenue and Orinda Street.

No one was hurt and Reynoso was apprehended without incident.

Reynoso was arrested on suspicion of crimes such as car theft, endangering children, and kidnapping. He was placed in the Santa Clara County Jail.

“I am very proud of the quick work of our controllers and our patrol teams last night and I am grateful that no one was hurt in this incident,” said Capt. Scott Nelson. “Thank you to everyone who helped so quickly to peacefully resolve this dire situation.”