A 13-year-old girl was found safe after a car was stolen with her inside while it was parked along a roadside near SMK Taman Sri Muda yesterday.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Ramsay Embol said the incident occurred at around 7pm and involved a silver Perodua Viva. At the time, the girl was seated in the rear of the vehicle, playing on her mobile phone, when an unknown individual drove off with the car.
Police at the district headquarters control centre received a report regarding the theft shortly after it happened, prompting an immediate alert to be issued to officers on duty to locate both the vehicle and the child.
“Following information provided by members of the public, the vehicle and the victim were found about an hour later by the roadside near Restoran D’ Shell in Section 26,” Ramsay said in a statement.
He added that officers, together with investigators from the district Criminal Investigation Department, confirmed that the girl was unharmed.
Although the victim did not suffer any physical injuries, she was left traumatised by the incident.
Ramsay explained that the car engine had initially been switched off. However, the girl had requested the car key from her father so she could sit inside the vehicle, and later started the engine herself.
“The suspect only realised there was a child inside the car after the girl screamed. He did not act violently and merely instructed her to remain quiet,” he said.
Both the victim and the vehicle were later taken to the district police headquarters for further investigation, while the car was examined by the Selangor police forensic team.
Police have opened an investigation under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft and Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping.
If convicted of vehicle theft, an offender may face imprisonment of between one and seven years, and may also be fined. For kidnapping a minor from lawful guardianship, the punishment carries a jail term of up to seven years and a possible fine.
Members of the public with information related to the case are urged to contact the investigating officer, Inspector Ahmad Mokhsin Abdul Rahman, at 011-17554394.
