CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) – Virginia State Police canceled an Amber Alert for 3-month-old Vanessa Varrios-Dasilva, the baby girl that was inside a stolen vehicle Wednesday morning in Chesapeake, around 9 a.m. after the infant was found safe in Norfolk.
Police said the baby was found in the Little Creek area of Norfolk after being left under a stairwell at an apartment complex, still in her car seat. Police say she was found in a timely manner, but still taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The VSP Amber Alert was issued just after 8 a.m. Wednesday after someone stole a gray 2017 Hyundai Tucson in Chesapeake with the infant inside. Police said the theft happened in the 3400 block of Western Branch Boulevard around 6:30 a.m. at a Wawa convenience store.
According to police, the child’s mother went inside the store and left the car running, unlocked and unattended.
Chesapeake police say an issue with the state police Amber Alert hotline caused a delay in sending out the alert to the public.
Police announced just after 11 a.m. that the stolen vehicle was located in the 400 block of Timothy Avenue in Norfolk. Chesapeake detectives processed it for evidence.
Chopper 10 flew over Timothy Avenue about an hour later and found a tow truck on scene removing the vehicle from a parking lot.
The suspect, described as a Black male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and white sneakers, has not been located.
10 On Your Side asked Chesapeake police if the Wawa surveillance captured the crime and they replied that their department ‘does not have any footage to release.’
Anyone with information in the case is asked to call police.
Chesapeake Police said they would also follow up for possible “neglect” charges in the case.
Police are using this opportunity to let people know to never leave a young child unattended in a car, and don’t leave a car running and unlocked.
Correction: The initial version of this story said the baby was found on a sidewalk in her car seat. However, police confirmed the baby was found under a stairwell at an apartment complex.