A car thief who stole an SUV from an east Vancouver driveway Tuesday morning also nabbed a 3-year-old girl strapped into a car seat in the back. The child was later dropped off at a medical clinic.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. in the 4700 block of Northeast 119th Avenue. Vancouver police said a woman parked in the driveway of her babysitter's home and left the engine running while she escorted her other children into the house. When she emerged, her 2022 Volkswagen Atlas SUV was gone.

She immediately called 911, and was on the phone with dispatchers, when a call came in that a man had dropped off a child in front of the Sea Mar medical clinic at 11801 N.E. 65th St., then drove away.

Mother and daughter were soon reunited, but the gray Volkswagen was still missing as of Tuesday evening. It  had a Washington license plate, CCC 3903.

The man who was seen dropping off the child, who was still in her car seat, is described as a heavyset white man, 40-50 years old, with brown hair and a beard.

Anyone with information on the location of the vehicle or the suspect should call 911. Do not approach the vehicle or the suspect, police said.

Anyone with nonemergency information should contact Vancouver Police Detective David Jensen at 360-487-7446; david.jensen@cityofvancouver.us or Sgt. Julie Ballou at 360-487-7386; allou@cityofvancouver.us.