THE BRONX (PIX11) — Police have asked for the public’s help finding a thief who swiped an SUV in the Bronx with a 2-year-old girl in the back seat, releasing a surveillance image of the suspect on Wednesday.
The girl was found unharmed in the abandoned vehicle shortly after the theft on Monday evening.
The child’s grandfather had exited the 2020 Toyota Highlander on Bronxwood Avenue near East 225th Street in Wakefield around 5:30 p.m. and left the SUV running with the toddler inside, according to authorities.
A short time later, a gold 2018 Honda Accord pulled up alongside the Toyota, and the suspect exited the rear driver’s side door, surveillance video released by the NYPD shows. As the driver of the Honda took off, the thief opened the door of the Toyota, got behind the wheel and followed, the video shows.
The SUV was found abandoned a short time later near Edson Avenue and East Gun Hill Road in Baychester, a little over 2 miles away, police said. The girl was still in the vehicle, unharmed, according to officials.
In releasing the footage as well as a still image of the individual, police asked that anyone with information on the case reach out.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
