Newark NJ police are searching for a man who allegedly stole a car with a child inside the vehicle.
According to law enforcement, the suspect stole a car parked outside a car dealership located on the 900 block of 18th Avenue in Lower Valisburg, New Jersey. The incident occurred during the morning hours.
The driver of the vehicle left the engine running while he got out of the car to talk to someone. As a result, the suspect was reportedly able to easily get inside the vehicle and drive off.
Additionally, the owner of the car left his sleeping child inside.
Just a few minutes after allegedly driving away with the child, the suspect stopped the car and abandoned it on Spencer Street.
Thankfully, the child was unhurt during the theft incident.
Newark police were called to the scene to investigate the auto theft. The police department’s robbery squad is currently conducting an ongoing investigation into the auto theft.
If investigators are eventually able to identify and capture the suspect, he would likely face serious criminal charges for auto theft and kidnapping. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, the minimum charge for the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle is third degree auto theft. A conviction on third degree auto theft charges could lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
To learn more about this case, view the NJ.com article entitled “Thief Stole Car with Sleeping Child Still Inside, Newark Authorities Say.”
