Details have now emerged about last week’s stolen car incident in which a two year old boy was in the back seat during the theft.
Police say they have now charged the father of the boy who was inside with abandoning a child, citing that their investigation has shown sufficient grounds that put the child at risk .
The incident happened Friday afternoon around 2:30 when police were called by a man reporting his parked Toyota had been stolen with his two year old son inside around the Welland and Geneva area. Thankfully, about 40 minutes later police got a call the child had been dropped off at a business in Grimsby, unharmed and the Toyota itself was was later found in Hamilton.
Police are still trying to find out who stole the Toyota and are asking anyone with information to call the 1 District Detective Office at 905-688-4111 ext. 4286.
ORIGINAL REPORT BELOW:
Police say that on Friday December 9, 2016, at 2:30PM the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) received a 9-1-1 call. The caller reported that his black 2007 Toyota Prius had been stolen with his 2 year old son in it. The car had been parked and left unattended with the child inside in the area of Welland Avenue and Geneva Street in St. Catharines.
Uniform officers from 1 District St. Catharines along with Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) flooded the area to search for the child and car. At approximately 3:10PM the NRPS received a 911 call reporting that the child had been dropped off at a business in Grimsby. Paramedics from Niagara Emergency Medical Services attended and assessed the child. The child appeared to be well and in good health. He was transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure.
At approximately 4:10PM the NRPS was contacted by the Hamilton Police Service to report that the stolen Toyota had been located in Hamilton. The car was secured by the Hamilton Police, pending examination by Detectives from the NRPS Forensic Services Unit.
At present the identity of the suspect responsible for the theft of the Toyota is unknown.
The circumstances of the child being left unattended and the theft of the car both remain under investigation by the 1 District St. Catharines CIB office. Anyone with information is asked contact Detectives at 905-688-4111.
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