Indian restaurant owner's car stolen with baby on board

Victoria police are investigating the theft of a vehicle with a child on board from Craigieburn. The incident occurred on Monday night when the car was allegedly stolen from outside an Indian restaurant. According to police, “a three-year-old boy was asleep in a booster chair in the back seat.”

Source: SCMP Alamy

The car belonged to Mr Vaneet Bansal, who owns the Craigieburn Indian Restaurant. Detectives believe a person stole the silver Mitsubishi Outlander from Hamilton Street at 10 pm, where a three-year-old boy was asleep in a booster chair in the back seat. 

“The offender drove the car for about three minutes before abandoning it and the child was reunited with his family. The offender jumped into a light-coloured hatchback driven by another person,” police said in a statement.

Mr Bansal told 9 News he ran after the car immediately but could catch it. According to police, the duo was last seen driving south onCimberwood Drive at about 10.20pm.

Police are appealing for dashcam footage from anyone who may have been travelling in the area at the time. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.