Police are searching for a man who stole a car with a baby sleeping in the back seat from a supermarket car park in Shepparton, Victoria.
The 15-month-old boy was sleeping in the back seat of his mother’s parked car on Maude Street, when she ducked into the shops just before 2pm last Friday.
CCTV footage has captured the moment the thief got into the car and reversed out before realising the baby was inside. He then ran to the other side of the car park to place the child inside a cardboard box before driving away.
The mother returned from the supermarket to find her baby in the box on the ground, before calling for help.
The stolen car was found the next day 5km away in Mooroopna.
“Personally, I am very horrified by his behaviour,” Detective Acting Sergeant Andrew Costello told ABC News.
“I am a father of three and a member of the Shepparton community, and when I first heard about this job, I was extremely anxious about the safety and welfare of the mother and family.
“I can only imagine the grief she was feeling at the time when she thought her child had been stolen.”
Police shared images of the alleged offender, described as 165 centimetres tall, aged in his 20s to 30s, with a slim build.
He was wearing a blue Golden State basketball singlet, a black cap worn backwards, navy headphones, black shorts, light blue joggers, and black sweatbands on both wrists.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Aussies have reacted to the CCTV footage, with mixed reactions.
“Give him 15 years,” one wrote, while another added, “At least he didn’t drive away with the baby, which has happened.”
Others questioned why the mother left the baby inside the vehicle, however, Detective Costello said she was only in the shops “for a matter of moments” before she returned.
Image: Victoria Police
