1 day ago
Handout / São Paulo Military Police
The baby was rescued unharmed inside the car by military police.
A man was arrested in São Paulo, Brazil, on suspicion of stealing a car with a two-month-old baby inside.
The baby boy's mother had briefly left him in the car, which was parked in front of an after-school children's activity centre, while she went to collect her seven-year-old daughter on Thursday.
CCTV footage shows the mother stepping out of the car and standing in front of it as her daughter exits the centre. Seconds later, a man enters the driver's side and speeds away, taking the baby with him.
The baby was rescued unharmed by police approximately 2.7 km (1.6 miles) from the centre, and the man was arrested.
Police said they alerted all nearby patrol vehicles after receiving the mother's call, and officers located the car on a busy road shortly after.
When the suspect noticed he was being followed by police, he attempted to escape but was hindered by traffic.
He then exited the car, leaving the baby inside, and tried to flee on foot but slipped and fell due to rain-soaked ground.
Despite trying to run again, members of the public detained him until officers arrived and arrested him.
Both the baby and the suspect were taken to hospital. The child was returned to his mother unharmed, while the man sustained minor injuries before being taken into custody.
Videos shared on social media showed several members of the public, including the mother and her daughter, chasing the car moments after the theft.
Speaking to local media, the mother expressed gratitude to the public and police for their assistance.
Maria Samara explained that she usually steps out of the car to help her daughter lift her school bag, as it is too heavy for her to manage alone.
"I do this every day. But today, unfortunately, there was someone who shouldn't have been there at that moment," she said.
"Before I even turned my back to the car, he got in and took my son with him," she told Brazilian news site G1, visibly emotional.
Holding her baby son, she added that both her children are safe.
Police confirmed the car has been returned to its owner.
