A 6-year-old girl was briefly taken Tuesday night when two men stole the vehicle she was in outside a Chalmette business, authorities said.
She was later found safe in another abandoned stolen car.
The St. Bernard Sheriff's Office said deputies are looking for the two men they believe to be responsible for the auto theft.
Authorities said they were called shortly before 7 p.m. when two men in a silver 2019 Kia SUV tried to carjack someone near Buffon Street and East St. Bernard Highway. Deputies did not say if the two men were armed.
The would-be victims fled, preventing their car from being stolen, authorities said.
Minutes later, a black 2019 Acura TL was stolen outside a business in the 2000 block of Paris Road in Chalmette, according to a statement from the Sheriff's Office. A 6-year-old girl was inside the vehicle when it was stolen.
Chased car into New Orleans
Detectives saw the speeding Acura heading out of the parish, authorities said, and chased it into New Orleans. The detectives said they tried to get the vehicle to stop, but the two men abandoned it and ran away.
The child was not inside the vehicle when deputies got to it, authorities said. They didn't say where the car was when it was abandoned.
Deputies said they found the girl "shortly after" inside the Kia previously used by the would-be carjackers. The vehicle was abandoned near Delille and Moreau streets in Chalmette, and the girl was alone inside.
She was in good health, they said.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and they continue to look for the two unidentified men. No description was immediately available.
Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.