Thieves steal car with boy in back

Thieves in Hampshire got more than they bargained for when they stole a high performance car last week, only to discover that the owner's five-year-old son was sitting in the back.

The 24-year-old mother of the child explained that a BMW ran into the back of her Mitsubishi Lancer Evo in Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville, on the afternoon of February 16. She and the driver of the BMW then got out and began arguing about the damage caused in the collision and whose car insurance company would be liable.

At that point, the BMW's passenger got out of the car and stole the Mitsubishi, unaware that he had inadvertently taken the boy with him.

A Hampshire Police spokesman revealed that the vehicle was found a few minutes later outside a nearby school. The boy was still in the back seat and was unhurt.

Detective Inspector Christopher Parry said: "Our investigation is focused on the motive of stealing a valuable performance car, not abducting a child."

The mother told police: "As I imagine anyone would do, I got out of the car to speak to the other driver, it never crossed my mind that while I was doing this my car would be driven away."

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