Shocking footage has emerged of a man allegedly dumping a baby on the road after unknowingly stealing a car with the child in the back.
Police were called to a shopping center in Waitara, on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, after reports of a stolen vehicle at around 12.10pm on Friday.
The owner of the silver Peugeot truck had just gotten out of the car when a man jumped inside and sped off with the baby still in the back, local police said.
Security footage from the corner of Queen and Cameron streets showed a man getting out of the still-moving car and taking the baby out of the back seat.
He then left the child on the road and got back behind the wheel before speeding off. The baby was later found unharmed.
New Zealand police are still searching for a man caught on camera dumping a baby on the road after stealing a car with the child in the back seat (pictured)
The baby was later found unharmed; However, the car was driven “all over” the local region over the weekend before being found abandoned on Monday.
The Peugeot was found on the corner of Henui and Mclean streets in neighboring New Plymouth on Monday morning.
Police allege the car had been driven “all over” Taranaki, the region that includes Waitara and New Plymouth, that weekend.
An accomplice of the driver was arrested and taken into custody.
Police are still searching for the suspected car thief and have asked the public for information.
Anyone who saw the car or has any information related to the investigation is asked to contact police.