A Long Beach family was reunited with their valuables after sheriff’s deputies recovered the U-Haul stolen from outside their home, authorities said Saturday.

The theft happened about 6:00AM Friday in the 3400 block of Baltic Avenue in Long Beach, Deputy Armando Viera Jr. of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. The truck had been parked outside the family’s home and it was packed, ready for their move to Northern California.

“The family loaded the U-Haul truck the previous night with all their valuables and most treasured family possessions, including their children’s baby born blankets, baby toys and irreplaceable family photos,” Viera said.

Deputies Jeffrey Rupert and Chad Micek of the Carson Sheriff’s Station were on patrol in Carson’s Lincoln Village tract later that morning where they spotted the stolen U-Haul and called for back-up, Viera said.

Shortly thereafter, they observed the truck leaving the neighborhood and pulled it over, he said. The driver allegedly tried to run away but was located during a brief search and arrested without further incident.

“My wife was having a nervous breakdown because of all the memories we were so close to losing,” the anonymous victim said. “We were excited to hear the deputies found the vehicle. My wife actually screamed out of excitement.”