Suffolk County police are investigating the late-night theft in Brentwood of an SUV with a 3-year-old girl in the back seat who was found a short time later inside the abandoned vehicle, alone but unharmed, authorities said Monday.

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner was stolen about 10:08 p.m. Sunday from the parking lot of a Checkers restaurant on Brentwood Road, according to police.

About 10:20 p.m., the abandoned SUV was found less than a mile away on a road near the Broadway West Apartments in Brentwood, with the girl in the back seat, police said.

Third Squad detectives continued to search Monday for a male suspect they said stole the SUV.

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