37-year-old Jesus Vences stole the vehicle from the 900 block of 19th Street in Downtown Bakersfield around 12:20 p.m. Wednesday.
The vehicle was located unoccupied in East Bakersfield in the 3000 block of Niles Street.
Vences barricaded himself inside a trailer in the rear yard with the children. Officers rescued the children and took Vences into custody.
The children were uninjured and reunited with the family. There is no known connection between the children and Vences.
Vences was booked on open charges Wednesday with $300,000 bail.
Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call Bakersfield Police at 661-327-7111.
