2 Kids, Mom Kidnapped By Carjacker In Walgreens Parking Lot

WHEELING, IL — A carjacker drove away with a mother and two kids still in the car Sunday in Wheeling, police said. A patron of the Walgreens in the 0-100 block of North Milwaukee Avenue told police he had left his car running around 3:20 p.m. as he went inside the store. His wife and two children, ages 1 and 3, remained behind in the car, according to police.

When the man returned, he found his car was gone and his wife and kids were nowhere to be found, according to a news release from Wheeling police.

First, he tried calling his wife's cellphone, but there was no answer. He then called 911.

A state police emergency alert was broadcast to law enforcement, and authorities were in the process of issuing an AMBER alert when police received a call from the kidnapped woman.

Police said she and her children were driven about 20 miles away and left unharmed in the 4700 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago.

The carjacker, who stole cash and the woman's cellphone, was described as a 37 to 40-year old white man with light colored eyes and a short beard, according to police.

He was last seen wearing a black winter hat, black and white camouflage pants and gym shoes.

If you recognize the person shown in the below 7-Eleven surveillance video, contact Wheeling police at 847-459-2632.

_{Top photo: Suspect in carjacking at a Wheeling Walgreens. | Via Wheeling PD}