Almost a week on after a man stole a car with two children still in it; detectives are appealing for the suspect to hand himself in to police.
The incident happened at around 12:45hrs on Saturday, 2 July, in Kempe Road, Enfield, when the 27-year-old mother of the two children parked her black three-door Vauxhall Astra to go to nearby shops.
The mother and an adult relative got out of the vehicle leaving her 11-month-old son and 12-year-old daughter in the car.
An unknown man then got in and drove the car off at speed.
Frightened and scared, the 12-year-old girl managed to escape by throwing herself out of the car and into the road, but the baby remained in the car still strapped into his car seat.
The panic-stricken mother on seeing her car drive off containing her baby son and her daughter lying in the road immediately called the police.
Officers attend the scene and the girl was treated for minor injures but she did not require hospital treatment.
Searches for the car were unsuccessful, but officers were later contacted by Hertfordshire Police to say the baby boy had been left, unharmed, on the doorstep of a residential address in Cheshunt.
The vehicle was found abandoned a short distance from that address in Coopers Walk, Cheshunt, later that day.
Detectives from Enfield CID continue to appeal for information and witnesses and are specifically appealing for the suspect to surrender.
The suspect is described as a white male, in his late teens, with light hair in a spiky style and possibly wearing a hooded top.
Detective Inspector Chris Rixon, Enfield CID said:
“It is of paramount importance that we find the person responsible immediately and I am appealing to anyone who has any information that could assist with the investigation to get in contact. The suspect is an opportunist who showed little regard for the welfare and the safety of the children. What happened is every parent’s worse nightmare and I’m specifically appealing for the suspect to give himself up now before it is too late.
“I’m certain that friends and family of the suspect know what he has done. He put the lives of two young children in jeopardy and I would hope that seeing and hearing what he put them through will make them think twice about harbouring such a callous and dangerous criminal. It’s not too late to do the right thing and come forward and speak to the police.
“All the victims involved have been put through an awful ordeal, none more so than the little 12-year-old girl. The fact that she threw herself out of moving vehicle just shows how frightened she was. She is a very fortunate little girl as the situation could have been so much worse, it could have resulted in her sustaining significant injuries or could have resulted in her dying had she been hit by an oncoming car.
“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the bravery of the girl involved as well as thanking the member of the public who found the little boy on their doorstep. They took such great care of him and both the police and the child’s mother are very grateful.”
There have been no arrests and enquires continue.
Anyone with information is asked to call Enfield CID on 020 8345 3323 or the police non-emergency line on 101.
To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.