Two missing children allegedly abducted from Utah were located by police in Southern California after a nine-day search, the Hermosa Beach Police Department announced Thursday.
The two children, ages 7 and 11, were located in Hermosa Beach by officers in a multi-state investigation conducted by local authorities and the Payton Police Department in Utah.
The mother of the pair was accused of taking the children out of state, violating a court-ordered custody agreement, according to Hermosa Beach police.
With the help of Automated License Plate Reader technology, police were able to track down a vehicle that was flagged by Utah officials in connection with the active child abduction investigation.
During a patrol early Wednesday morning, Hermosa Beach police officers located the vehicle parked in a residential area. The two children were found living with their mother inside the vehicle along with two cats and a dog, police said.
First responders evaluated the children and determined they were in good health.
The mother was arrested on an active felony warrant for parental kidnapping of minors, according to Hermosa Beach police.
“The Hermosa Beach Police Department is committed to our mission of providing excellent service and we are grateful to our strong partners in law enforcement. The safe return of these kids is a powerful example of what can be achieved when agencies work together,” Chief Phillips said. “Through close coordination with the Payson Police Department and the effective use of ALPR technology, our officers were able to bring this case to a swift and successful resolution. We want to thank the officers and investigators of the Payson Police Department and the officers of HBPD for helping these children return home.”