Fort Lauderdale, FL– The Broward Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for a suspect who stole a vehicle with a three-year-old child inside.
The incident occurred outside of the IHOP restaurant in Oakland Park Saturday on morning.
Officials located the child and the vehicle a few minutes after the vehicle was stolen, however, the suspect is still on the run.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 33-year-old Phillip J. Pepe Jr. of Delaware.
He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue shorts and is said to have a tattoo on his right arm and an abrasion under his left eye.
While Pepe is a native of Delaware he has previously been arrested in Broward County on a number of charges.
Authorities believe he may be hiding out in Broward or Palm Beach County.
“They believe that he fled somewhere in Broward County or perhaps he fled somewhere in Palm Beach County,” Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said.