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Neighbors Remain Uneasy As Officials Investigate Case Of Missing Northridge Girl

NORTHRIDGE (CBSLA.com) — Residents in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood where a 10-year-old girl was kidnapped from her home remain uneasy Friday.

Around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, the girl was discovered to be missing when her mom checked on her after hearing commotion in the family's Northridge home.

The victim was found nearly 12 hours later wandering around a Starbucks parking lot barefoot six miles from her house.

Just two days later, the investigation continues with no suspects in custody.

"I feel scary because 20 years I'm living here and nothing happened before," said Tony Adiwibowo, a neighbor who lives a few doors down from the victim's home. "This is a good neighborhood."

Stephanie Dolatre, a mother of two, said the incident has forced her to use sensors that monitor her children's doors and windows.

"I'm scared, and my kids have large windows in their bedroom and that scares me," Dolatre said. "You put on the chime thing and then hang it on your door, and if there is any movement it'll go off, and it's very very loud."

The Los Angeles Police Department says they have beefed up patrols in the area as detectives continue to gather clues regarding the kidnapping.

"One thing people should know, this is not a series of kidnappings of young children," LAPD Capt. Andrew Smith said in a news conference Thursday. "We don't have a series of children that are getting snatched out of their beds in the middle of the night. However, as a parent, I think every parent knows that until these two individuals are captured we should use all the caution that we can with our children."

The LAPD re-interviewed the girl and her family Thursday, but a spokesperson said details of the discussion are being kept under wraps for the integrity of the investigation.

But residents still have questions.

"She knows who took her. She's able to explain what's happened and who took her and what," neighbor Very Neskovich said. "She's not 4 years old. They know better."

The LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division, which has the lead on the investigation, has been working around the clock with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies throughout the city.

"We're doing everything we can. We're pulling out all the stops to get to the bottom of this and to get these two individuals into custody," Smith said.

Officials request anyone with information regarding the suspects or the investigation is asked to contact the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division 24-hour TIP line at (213)486-6890.

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