Opportunistic thief steals car with baby at Woolworths in Melbourne after two drivers get distracted during road rage incident
Father son and car stolen during road rage incident
A father’s two-year-old son was inadvertently taken by an opportunistic thief who stole his car after he argued with another driver during a road rage incident.
Masood Masood was on his way to Dandenong Plaza in Melbourne’s south-east with his son Mohammed when he was cut off by another driver on Monday afternoon.
Moments later the motorist rammed the father of about five before giving him the middle finger.
Mr Masood got out of his Kia Carnival and confronted the other driver and within just 20 seconds, a man was seen crossing the road getting into the car and speeding away.
Victoria Police later arrested Kyle Bell (24).
He has been charged with child theft, motor vehicle theft, driving without a license and committing an ineligible offense while on bail.
Masood Masood was walking with his son Mohammed to Dandenong Plaza in Melbourne’s south-east on Monday afternoon when another driver cut him off. Seconds later the car with her son inside was stolen
Mr Masood told 9News he was grateful to the driver he was arguing with, as they quickly put aside their confrontation to join forces and hunt down the thief who accidentally took his son.
‘I pulled over to talk to the guy and we got out (of our car) for 20 seconds,’ the 40-year-old said.
‘I looked back at my car and it was gone.’
They both chase the thief before the Kia Carnival and give them a slip near Dandenong Hospital.
Mr Masud said he then reported the incident to the police, shocked by what had happened.
‘I was really shocked… I (didn’t know) what to do.. ‘I even forgot my registration… I lost everything like my memory,’ she said.
‘I was just shouting, and I couldn’t hear what the police were asking me.’
Mr Masood (pictured) said he and the driver he was beefing with quickly settled their differences and quickly joined forces when he told him his baby had been taken.
About an hour later she was told a child matching her son’s description had been found in an aisle at Woolworths in Ferntree Lane – about 15km from where the car was stolen.
Mr Masood said he was shown a picture and felt relieved when he knew his second-youngest child was safe.
Mohammed told her he wasn’t scared and didn’t cry as they hugged, the relieved father thanked police and the community for their help.
‘I’ve got a new life. He hugged me very tightly,’ Mr Masood said of being reunited with his son.
‘I really appreciate it from my heart.’
The toddler was dropped off 15km away at Woolworths in Ferntree Lane (pictured), where he was found wandering the aisles.
The original warring drivers have well and truly settled their differences as father and son reunite, staying together throughout the ordeal.
Mr Masood’s car was found abandoned in Coldstream by a local on Monday around 7pm.
Bell was remanded in custody overnight and is due to appear in the Dandenong Magistrates Court on Wednesday.