Sleeping child inside stolen car in County Durham

Four teenagers have been arrested after a car was driven away with a sleeping child inside [13 December 2011]

The owner of the vehicle had left his car to collect a takeaway in St Helen Auckland on Friday night, leaving his keys in the ignition, when it was taken.

The car was recovered 10 minutes after it was reported stolen.

Luckily the five year old boy was unharmed and slept throughout the whole ordeal.

Four youths aged between 14 and 17 were arrested over the incident and later bailed pending further inquiries.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "This was an extremely distressing incident for the victim who feared for the safety of his young child.

"The victim has been given words of advice about the wisdom of leaving a child on its own in a car.

"I'd like to remind people that they should under no circumstances leave cars unattended with keys in the ignition.

Read more on the BBC website

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