A four-year-old child, who was left sleeping in the back seat of an SUV when it was stolen from a plaza in Guelph on Monday, was found shortly after in good health – and still asleep, according to police.
The child’s mother contacted the police just before 4:30 p. m. to report that her SUV had been taken from the area of Willow Road and Westwood Road with her child inside.
“Police were informed that a man had exited a business with stolen items. When an employee attempted to stop him, the man exposed himself before getting into the SUV and driving away,” Guelph Police stated in a news release, adding “officers from across the city rushed to the area” to assist in searching for both the child and the stolen vehicle.
Police highlighted that front-line officers along with members of various units including traffic, drug enforcement, auto theft, and general investigations quickly joined forces to find the woman’s child.
It didn’t take long for authorities to locate both the young child and the stolen SUV.
“The SUV was found parked on a nearby street approximately 16 minutes after it was reported stolen. The child remained asleep inside and had not sustained any physical injuries,” police noted, adding that the Guelph Police communications unit “supported the operation by connecting responding officers to vital information to aid in the search.”
Following this incident, police remind caregivers never to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, even for brief periods. On warm days, temperatures inside cars can escalate quickly and pose serious risks of heat-related illness or death, they mentioned.
Guelph Police Chief Gord Cobey commended everyone involved in the search “for their excellent response which ensured this emergency situation was resolved quickly and safely.”
Police also apprehended a suspect near where they found the stolen SUV.
A 29-year-old man from Guelph faces charges for motor vehicle theft, theft under $5,000, and committing an indecent act. He has been held for a bail hearing.
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