A FATHER had the fright of his life after his car was stolen with his toddler inside earlier this month.
The Kings Park man parked his car outside a grocery store at around 8.45pm on Friday 17 February on Main Rd East in St Albans.
His two-year-old child was buckled in the back seat, the keys were left in the ignition and the motor was running. The man came out of the store a short time later to find his vehicle, and child, missing.
Seven police units, including the police air wing, searched the area and found the vehicle, with the child unharmed, in a street nearby.
Sunshine CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Fred Grove said the father was very distressed.
“It’s a pretty strong lesson to be learned,” Det Sen Sgt Grove said.
“Don’t leave your kids in the car, don’t leave your keys in the car and don’t leave the motor running. Everything we preach and tell people was done wrong on this occasion.”
He said the father was in the shops for only a “few minutes”.
Det Sen Sgt Grove said investigators believe the offender abandoned the vehicle after realising the toddler was in the back seat.
The stolen car was a white Ford Falcon sedan and police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au
