Colorado Springs, CO – On January 20, 2026, a tense and dramatic search ended safely after a 2-year-old child was found inside a stolen vehicle.

At approximately 2:43 p.m., authorities received a 911 call reporting the theft of a 2021 black Kia Seltos from an apartment complex in the 2700 block of King Street, with 2-year-old Giovani Salazar-President inside.

Police responded immediately, and the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) deployed a drone as a first responder while monitoring CCTV, red light cameras, automatic license plate recognition systems, and live officer body-worn camera feeds to track the vehicle.

Officers on the ground interviewed witnesses and combed the surrounding area. The RTCC also distributed a photo of Giovani and the stolen Kia, which had been captured by an ALPR camera, helping officers focus their search in real time.

Just before 5 p.m., the Kia Seltos was located with Giovani still safely inside. The suspect had abandoned the car and was no longer at the scene. Authorities praised the swift and coordinated response that ensured the child’s safety.

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