A mother has been reunited with her four-month-old son after he was taken to a stolen car in Adelaide this morning.
Key points:
- A woman’s car was stolen in Klemzig with her four-month-old baby inside
- He was found more than two hours later in another suburb of Adelaide
- The child will be checked by a doctor, but police say he is fine and safe
SA police said the Honda Jazz was stolen around 7:45 a.m. in front of a charcuterie shop on Klemzig’s Fourth Avenue.
The baby was in the car when he was taken away.
Police alleged that the man who grabbed the car had jumped from a gray Mazda and got into the car before taking off.
The 29-year-old woman driving the Honda – the boy’s mother – was inside the charcuterie shop at the time.
The car was found by police at Wilkinson Court in Enfield at 10:09 a.m. Superintendent Matt Nairn said.
“Fortunately, the boy was sitting in the back,” he said.
The young mother kisses her son moments after reuniting. (ABC News)
Paramedics attended the scene, but Superintendent Nairn said the boy was “healthy and safe.”
“It is a great relief for the SA police to reunite the mother and the child,” he said.
“As I repeat, a four-month-old baby, you can imagine the anguish this caused his mother.”
Police at Wilkinson Court where the car was found. (ABC News: Claire Campbell)
In a statement, police said the baby would be examined by a doctor at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
“Cutting it down is an understatement,” Superintendent Nairn said.
“We are looking at illegal use and abduction, potentially, for major offenses, but imagine that, from any parent’s point of view, it’s more than distressing the child would be taken under any circumstances.”
Police look at the Mazda ute that was abandoned outside the deli. (ABC News)
The police do not blame the mother but “be careful”
Superintendent Nairn said it was a reminder to parents to “be careful,” but reiterated that the mother was not to blame.
“I don’t think mom did anything wrong in that context,” she said.
“I think in this case everything was done by the criminal or the suspect, so there is no need to blame the mother at all.
“Mom has done her best.”
Police said the alleged thief and the woman did not know each other.
They are still looking for the suspect.
CCTV footage of the man police say stole the car in Klemzig. (Supplied by: Policia SA)
Superintendent Nairn said there was a device in the car that police could track, but it was “limited.”
Police said the car was stolen from the Black Forest around 6 p.m.
The owner of the Fourth Ave Deli, who only wanted to be known as Allan, previously said the mother was “hysterical” and ran outside as soon as she saw her car back down.
“I thought he was going to run in front of the car, but he just took a step back,” he said.
“But she was right next to the car when he got out that way.
“[I] I couldn’t see him: he was wearing a black mask, a surgical mask. “
Police have described the man as Caucasian, about 20 years old and with dark hair.
Posted 7 hours, 7 hours ago, Monday, May 30, 2022 at 1:22 AM, updated 1 min ago, 1 minute ago, Monday, May 30, 2022 at 8:45 AM