VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD

A vehicle control device is configured to determine whether or not a living body is left behind in a vehicle. The vehicle control device includes an operation information acquisition unit that acquires first operation information indicating whether a first type of opening/closing unit related to getting-on/off of an occupant is operated and second operation information indicating whether a second type of opening/closing unit other than the first opening/closing unit is operated; a leaving determination unit that determines whether the living body is left behind with reference to the first operation information, and determines execution of a leaving alarm in a case where it is determined that the living body is left behind; and an execution holding unit which holds the execution of the leaving alarm in a case where the second operation information indicates that the second type of opening/closing unit is operated.