Car Stolen with Sleeping Infant Inside in Brazen Supermarket Theft
A 32-year-old man from Mooroopna has been charged following a disturbing incident in Shepparton, rural Victoria, where a car was stolen with a sleeping baby still inside. The event unfolded on November 14 just after 2pm in a local supermarket car park.
Police allege the man waited for the driver to enter the store before jumping into the unattended red Volkswagen. Unbeknownst to him, a 15-month-old baby was asleep in the back of the vehicle.
CCTV Captures Moment Baby is Abandoned
CCTV footage from the scene shows the man stopping the car shortly after driving away, having apparently discovered the sleeping child. The footage then captures the alleged offender picking up the baby and placing the infant in a cardboard box, which he left in the car park.
The female victim returned to her parking space to find her child, who was not physically injured, and immediately raised the alarm. The stolen red Volkswagen was located the following day in the nearby town of Mooroopna.
Suspect Arrested and Faces Multiple Charges
Police arrested the 32-year-old Mooroopna man in central Shepparton on Friday afternoon. He has been charged with a series of offences related to this incident, including:
- Theft of a motor vehicle
- Reckless conduct endangering serious injury
- Committing an indictable offence while on bail
Detectives have also charged the man with multiple offences concerning an unrelated incident in the Shepparton and Barmah areas on November 17. These additional charges include theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving while pursued by police, and aggravated reckless exposure of a police officer to risk by driving.
The accused has been remanded and is scheduled to appear at the Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Monday.
