The theft happened shortly before 11am in the 11700 block of Westheimer near Royal Oaks Club Drive. Police say a woman left her keys in the car, along with two children, when she stepped out of the car for a minute.
The thief jumped in and took off. A short time later, a police officer spotted the car and gave chase. The suspect was taken into custody at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Hayes a few minutes later.
"It's a terrible situation. I just heard a noise outside, I was inside and I just heard noise from the living room, people running everywhere," neighbor Isaac Nwankwo said.
Police searched the surrounding area for about an hour before finding the children, alone but safe, at the playground of another apartment complex that's seemingly near their home.
Now police are questioning the children's mother because neighbors say they saw the children playing in the same area about an hour before the carjacking was ever reported.
"The kids didn't say anything. They didn't say anything. I just gave them something to eat. They were just sitting with me," neighbor Renee Thornton said.
The children are believed to be roughly 11 months old and two years old. Their mother wouldn't talk to Eyewitness News.
"Can't really talk right now. I can't talk please," she said. "Can we just get some privacy? We just want to take them to the hospital and make sure that they are safe."
The suspect told police he found the car running at a nearby gas station. Police say after the family's reunion, the mom began suggesting a former roommate may be responsible for the alleged kidnapping.
Stay with ABC-13 Eyewitness News for the latest developments.
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