Melbourne couple reunited with daughter, thief stole car with girl inside

A Melbourne couple had an emotional reunion with their five-year-old daughter after a thief jumped into the BMW she was in and drove away.

Manik Sharma left his daughter inside the car outside the family’s Wyndam Vale home when the opportunistic thief struck.

“What started as a thief of a motor car has moved into a new arena which is child abduction and child stealing,” Superintendent Craig Gillard said.

“The offender clearly must have known there was a young five-year-old child seated behind him in the back seat.”

Instead of returning the child, the thief took her on a terrifying wild ride that lasted more than an hour.

The Sharmas were left clinging to hope that whoever took their daughter would keep her safe.

Instead, the thief led police on a high-speed chase, and drove down streets on the wrong side of the road in a bid to escape officers.

“This is a very serious offence which could have had a potentially horrible outcome,” Supt Gillard said.

The thief later abandoned the car, and the little girl, before fleeing the scene on foot.

The little girl was returned to her relieved parents while a manhunt got underway for the thief.

“I was shocked,” Mr Sharma said.

“She’s good, she’s better to be with her mum and dad.

“I’m relieved I got my daughter back.”

The alleged thief has been charged with a number of offences including child stealing.