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Cousin: Mother ran inside to get laptop when Rocky Mount 2-year-old was taken

A 2-year-old girl who was the subject of a statewide Amber Alert early Tuesday has been found safe in the town of Sharpsburg, according to officials with the Rocky Mount Police Department.

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ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — A 2-year-old girl who was the subject of a statewide Amber Alert early Tuesday has been found safe in the town of Sharpsburg, according to officials with the Rocky Mount Police Department.

N'eveah A'mirah Richardson was taken from a home at 731 Nashville Road in Rocky Mount at about 2 a.m., authorities said.

Officials confirmed that N'eveah was found safe at about 10:20 a.m. The vehicle she was in had been abandoned on Queen Street in Sharpsburg.

"She was not crying or anything. She just wrapped her arms around the officer who took her out," said neighbor Joseph Simmons.

Authorities said early Tuesday morning that N'eveah was taken by a man driving a green 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor with North Carolina license tag PCD-9688.

Family members said N'eveah's mother was dropping off a family member when she ran inside to grab her laptop and left the SUV running with the child inside.

"She just stepped in the house for a minute, for just a second, and when she came back out to the door, she said 'oh my God, my truck is gone and the baby is in there'," said family member Lora Fields.

No suspect has been arrested in the incident, but authorities spent Tuesday collecting evidence hoping the clues would lead them to the person who stole the vehicle. It is unclear is the mother will face charges for leaving the child alone.

"I don't think that was a smart move, not in any neighborhood, regardless of where you are at, it's not a smart move," Simmons said.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the Rocky Mount Police Department at 252-972-1411.

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