5-Year-Old Girl Snatched Off Calif. Street

Police on Tuesday searched for a man who kidnapped a 5-year-old girl while she played with a friend, gaining the youngsters' confidence by saying he needed help finding his dog.

Samantha Runnion's mother, Erin Runnion, pleaded for her daughter's return.

"She is such a sweet child," Runnion told reporters Tuesday morning. "We don't want vengeance, we just want our baby back."

Samantha was playing a board game with 6-year-old Sarah Ahn at their apartment complex when the man drove up Monday evening, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The man got out of his car and approached the girls, asking them for help in finding his dog, Amormino said.

Police and witnesses said Samantha talked to the man and then he grabbed her and drove off.

"She screamed 'Help me! Tell my grandmother!'" Sarah said. "I was so scared and ran back and told my mom."

Samantha's grandmother was inside the family's apartment while her parents were at work.

Police do not believe Samantha knew her kidnapper, Amormino said.

"The parents are both very, very upset," Amormino said. "They have no idea who would do this."