Amber Alert Cancelled: Autistic Teen In Stolen Car Found Safe

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA — A car with an autistic teenager inside was stolen Friday from a Jack in the Box parking lot in Paramount, prompting authorities to issue an Amber Alert that was canceled a few hours later after the teen and the vehicle were found.

The incident began sometime before 3:30 a.m. at 6601 E. Alondra Blvd., where the vehicle's engine was left running with 17-year-old Frankie Barboa inside, Deputy Kimberly Alexander of the Sheriff's Information Bureau said.

Alexander said Barboa was with his adult sister, who had stepped away and came back to find the vehicle gone.

Authorities issued an Amber Alert that included a photo and description of the teen, along with a description and license number of the car.

Shortly after 9 a.m., authorities reported that the boy and the car had been found.

According to the sheriff's department, a person described only as a female got into the car and drove off, apparently without knowing that Barboa was sitting in the rear seat and charging a device.

Authorities conducted a grid search, and found the car within a two-mile radius of the restaurant. Meanwhile, Barboa had gotten home via the bus system, the sheriff's department reported. He was not harmed.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Missing Persons Unit, Detective Abraham or Sergeant Nunez at (323) 890-5500. Submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo courtesy LASO Twitter