Calif. father kidnapped kids and sailed away in stolen yacht, police say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

The yacht "Unleashed" was stolen from the Ballena Isle Marina in Alameda on September 4, 2012.

/ Latitude 38

(CBS/KPIX) SAN FRANCISCO - Police in San Francisco are now looking for a 43-year-old California man suspected of kidnapping his two young children and sailing away in a stolen 40-foot yacht.

According to CBS San Francisco, police say 3-year-old Brooklynn Maffei and 2-year-old Devin Maffei were abducted in South San Francisco on Tuesday around 3 p.m. Police believe the two children were abducted by their father, Christopher Maffei, who fled in a rented white Ford Fusion.

The rental car was found at the Ballena Isle Marina where, police say, Maffei stole a 40-foot yacht and sailed away with the two children, CBS San Francisco reports.

The yacht is reportedly named "Unleashed" and has "San Francisco, CA" painted on the stern. It was last seen at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the area of Mare Island near Vallejo.

Police say Maffei has said in the past that he would like to sail to Monterey or Mexico, according to CBS San Francisco reports. State, county and federal agencies have been alerted to watch for Maffei, the yacht and the two children.

Anyone who spots them has been asked to contact South San Francisco police at (650) 877-8900.

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