Video shows man stealing car as children tumble out in Redlands

Redlands police are looking for a man who they said stole a car and nearly kidnapped two children inside who jumped out as he drove away.

The dramatic surveillance video shows Cory Michael Ahumada, 24, of Highland driving off in a 2002 Acura TL at 12:41 p.m. Sunday outside a 7-Eleven gas station in the 1100 block of Lugonia Avenue, police said.

The children’s frantic mother sprints out of the store as the right rear passenger door swings open and her 2-year-old and 10-year-old daughters tumble out of the car. The girls suffered minor cuts, police said.

Moments before the theft, Ahumada was shown in security video making a purchase inside the convenience store, police said. He is wanted on suspicion of auto theft and attempted kidnapping.

Police said the mother parked her Acura at a gas pump and left the engine running with her daughters still inside.

She ran into the 7-Eleven store to pay when Ahumada approached her car, got inside and began to drive away, police said.

That’s when the 10-year-old girl grabbed her younger sister and made a decision to jump out of the moving car.

The Acura with a license plate number of 4UWT026 was last seen entering the 210 Freeway from San Bernardino Avenue.

Anyone with details about Ahumada’s whereabouts is asked to call Redlands Det. Mike Merriman at (909) 389-6675 or police dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

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