THE thief who stole a car with a seven-month-old baby inside in Wanganui on Saturday later phoned a Wanganui dairy and told them where the child was.
The lunchtime drama sparked a police search that ended 45 minutes later with a tip-off of where the baby and car could be found.
Fifteen-year-old David Lai told the Wanganui Chronicle yesterday his mum was phoned by a man who told her there was a baby in a car outside the Dublin St dairy, where they worked.
Mr Lai went to investigate and found the baby crying in the back of a green four-wheel-drive vehicle.
"I went out and had a look and saw her in the back."
He thought the parents could have just ducked away to visit friends, but when they hadn't returned he became worried.
"I waited 10 minutes then called the police," he said.
Police arrived and checked the baby, who was unhurt.
Mr Lai later found out the car was stolen. "[The baby] was probably why the car was dumped."
Inspector Steve Darroch, of police central coms, said there was nothing to indicate the baby was intentionally abducted.
"One assumes they might have panicked when they realised what happened."
Constable Karl Williams, of Wanganui police, said the baby's parents had left the car in Victoria Ave to go to a nearby money machine at 12.20pm.
They immediately phoned police when they saw the car was gone and an intensive search across the city began. Mr Williams said the parents were distraught and worried about their baby.
"They were driving around with police looking. It was a nervous time for all involved you're obviously concerned when a child goes missing."
The car a green Nissan Terrano 4WD was being forensically examined yesterday.
Mr Williams said some property was taken.
The family, who were visitors to Wanganui, are recovering well but didn't want to discuss the ordeal with media, Mr Williams said.
Thief takes car with baby on board
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