Theft Of Car With Child Inside Thwarted In Eastchester

EASTCHESTER, NY — The theft of a car — with a child inside — was thwarted Thursday after the suspect noticed that he was being watched removing the child from the vehicle.

The Eastchester Police Department said, around 8:10 a.m. Thursday, they received a 911 call reporting a car that had been stolen while parked in the Green Knolls section of town.

The vehicle was left running with the key and a child inside, authorities said.

Police said the car’s owner was nearby escorting another child to the bus stop and saw the man get into the car.

The owner tried to stop the man before he drove away with the child.

Law enforcement said the man stopped near the intersection of Scarsdale Avenue and Harney Road to remove the child.

However, witnesses told police that, after the man got the child out of the car, he noticed he was being observed and fled from the scene in another car that was waiting. That vehicle was last seen on Harney Road traveling toward the Bronx River Parkway, authorities said.

Witnesses described the man as about 20 years old, thin and 6 feet tall, with dreadlocks. Police said they were told the vehicle he got into was a white Audi SUV with four men and a woman inside, all in their late teens or early 20s.

Eastchester police said the stolen car was recovered, and the child was found to be unharmed and quickly reunited with parents.

“We are fortunate that no one was harmed in this incident,” Eastchester Police Chief Joseph Rodriguez said in a news release.

“Unfortunately, over the past two years we have seen a significant increase in the number of stolen automobiles along with larcenies from vehicles,” he said.

Police said that residents should be vigilant of their surroundings, never leave their vehicle running unoccupied, never leave the key inside the car and ensure that the vehicles are locked, especially overnight.

Rodriguez said the incident is still being investigated. Anyone who has any knowledge, witnessed or has video of the incident should call the detective division at 914-961-3464.