DECATUR, Ga. — Authorities are searching today for two children who were kidnapped after a stranger offered to help the family when their car broke down on the side of an Atlanta-area interstate.

The family’s 1996 Volvo broke down early today and a stranger stopped to help, according to a statement by the DeKalb County police.

As the mother was making arrangements for a tow truck, the stranger drove off with the children in a dark green Jeep Cherokee.

Georgia authorities issued a statewide child abduction alert for 4-year-old Jalen Mattison and 1-year-old Amari Mattison. A police spokeswoman said she did not have the mother’s name, adding the mother was with detectives.

Police said the mother does not know the suspect, who was described as a male in his 30s, medium-build, about 5’10” and wearing a black stocking cap and a plaid button-down shirt.