Police return the baby to its mother. Photo: Courtesy Nine News
A seven-month-old boy is back with his mother, as police hunt the man who stole a car with the baby inside.
For two anxious hours police searched Canberra for the stolen silver 1999 Mazda 323 Protégé, which was taken when a mother was helping a man whose car had broken down.
The child and car were found in Palmerston almost two hours later, about 400m away from where they were taken in Ngunnawal.
The stolen Mazda sedan was found in the driveway of this home in Palmerston. Photo: Graham Tidy
Police said he was safe and well.
"About 3.45pm, a member of the public located the silver Mazda, which had sustained damage, in the driveway of their residence in Palmerston when they returned home and reported it to police immediately," police said in a statement.
"The baby was located safe and well on the porch of the residence and reunited with his parents a short time later."
The baby was found on this side deck of the home in Palmerston.. Photo: Graham Tidy
The baby was found in a stroller on a side porch, and it is understood the man broke through a gate to get there, and then broke through a back fence to escape.
Police said all available resources had been searching for the man in the Gungahlin area, and a call for help spread across social media.
Greg Kimball was at the scene when police arrived.
Police were looking for the stolen car in Gungahlin. Photo: Graham Tidy
He said he had spotted the car and recognised it as the stolen vehicle and called police, while an acquaintance knocked on the door. No one was home.
"[The car] was backed into a drive[way] and the bonnet was missing and it was all banged up," Mr Kimball said.
“The family [who lived there] arrived, and then literally not even a minute later, the police arrived. I was [still] on the phone.
A police officer with the baby. Photo: Courtesy Nine News
"They [police] went inside and went straight in and about a minute later came out [with the baby]."
Police took the baby back to his mother and reunited the family.
The family has asked for privacy at this point, but thanked the community for their support.
Detective Superintendent Kenton Turner. Photo: Graham Tidy
Detective Superintendent Kenton Turner said the car with the baby inside had been taken from Yarrawonga Street in Ngunnawal about 2pm.
Police said the mother had gone to the assistance of a man whose car had broken down when he jumped into her car and drove off with her son inside. It is understood the car's bonnet was up at the time, and that it broke off while he was driving it. The bonnet was missing when the car was found.
A spokeswoman said the car owner did not know the man.
Detective Supterintendent Turner said the mother and her baby were with police, and she was continuing to assist with their inquiries.
"The baby is safe and well and reunited with his parents," he said.
"I urge the community ... do not approach this man."
Officers from Belconnen and Gungahlin are scouring the surrounding area for the man, who was described as being of slim build, about 6'1'', Caucasian, with tattoos on his arms and aged in his 20s. He was wearing white Nike runners, shorts, a black T-shirt and a black baseball cap.
Detective Supterintendent Turner thanked the Canberra community for their help in tracking down the boy.
Anyone who sees the man is urged not to approach him and to contact police on 000.
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