The sister of an Adelaide man who stole a car with a baby inside has blamed the boy’s mother for leaving the baby in the car.
Erika Carter, 27, was shopping for a loaf of bread at a Klemzig deli on Monday when Ilias Latsis, 37, drove away with her car and her four-month-old son, Jordan, tied to the back seat.
Watch the interview in the video above
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In the security view, obtained exclusively by 7NEWS, Latsis is seen walking back out of the parking lot as Carter runs out, asking her to stop before running back to a nearby store to sound the alarm.
After a desperate police search, the car was found abandoned in Enfield with the child inside, safe and sound, about three hours later.
In an interview with 7NEWS, Latsis’ sister, Athina Latsis, pointed to Carter for leaving her baby in the back seat.
Athina Latsis. Credit: 7NOTESThe moment the car was taken from Klemzig. Credit: 7NEWS
“(My brother) has the kindest heart in the world,” he told 7NEWS, “and if that mother had done the right thing and taken out her son … we wouldn’t be in that position today.”
“It would not be a kidnapping or a kidnapping if this mother did not leave the child in the car. My brother was going to steal a car and that was it. “
Earlier this week, Latsis pleaded guilty to charges such as kidnapping and robbery, and apologized to Carter for the incident.
However, Carter – who admits he made a mistake – told 7NEWS he didn’t think he was sorry.
Erica Carter said the hours they were looking for Jordan were the longest of their lives. Credit: 7NEWS The two met after a few hours when Erica’s car was located. Credit: 7NEWS
She said looking for her baby was “the longest hours of her life.”
“It’s sad that we live in a world where we can’t trust what’s around us, and we can’t feel safe,” he said. what is needed ”.
He said he had stopped quickly at the deli when the incident happened.
See the shocking moment when the car was stolen, with the baby inside, in the following video player
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“I went on a quick trip to grab a bed and made the wrong decision to leave the bubbles for that split second,” he told 7NEWS.
“And as I was paying for my bread, I felt my car spin and my heart sank.
“I ran after my kid and did my best to get in front of him, but I couldn’t get to him, I was just yelling, ‘my baby, my baby Jordan’ and I thought the worst.”
CCTV cold
Police allege that Latsis arrived in the parking lot Monday morning with a stolen Mazda vehicle before dropping it off and taking his mother’s Honda. Shortly after 10 a.m., the car was found in Enfield with Jordan inside.
Following the investigation, police went to a CBD home around 6pm and arrested him in connection with the incident.
SA police released images of the man they were looking for. Credit: SA Policia
He was interviewed by police Monday night before being charged later in the evening.
A second man in the house was also arrested on a pending warrant.