Car stolen with toddler in back seat

**Miaow** · 05-10-2009 08:47

Wow lucky the child was ok - you wouldnt think just opening a gate something would happen like that

Car stolen with toddler in back seat

From: AAP
October 04, 2009 2:29PM

A VICTORIAN school employee has watched in horror as his car was stolen with his two-year-old son in the back seat.

The employee arrived at Billanook College, a junior and senior school in Melbourne's north east, at 6.25am (AEST) on Sunday morning to prepare for the day's activities.

He had stopped his car and got out with the engine still running while he opened the gates of the college, at Cardigan Road in Mooroolbark.

While he opened the gates, an unknown man got into the vehicle and drove into the school grounds.

The man drove around for about 500 metres looking for a way out of the grounds with the employee's son still in the back seat.

The car was driven up an embankment, before the thief abandoned the vehicle with the engine running and the handbrake off.

The car rolled about 100 metres and into a tree.

The toddler was not injured in the ordeal.

Police have launched a search involving an aerial sweep of the area for the car thief.

"It looks like someone has taken advantage of the fact the vehicle was running at the time and seized the opportunity," Detective Leading Senior Constable Brigette De Chirico said in a statement.

"I believe it is likely the offender was not aware there was a child in the vehicle when he stole it but panicked and abandoned the vehicle when he did notice the child," Snr Const De Chirico said.

The car has been towed from the scene and will undergo forensic testing.

The man police are looking for is described as Caucasian, 183cm tall, of slim build, with blonde, spiky hair.

He was believed to be wearing a white t-shirt at the time of the theft.

Police would not say whether the college employee was a teacher preparing for the resumption of classes on Monday.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bre...-1225782609119