Police suspect ‘crime of opportunity' in case of stolen car that had two children aged under two in backseat
Goldfields-Esperance Police Insp. Mick Kelly on Friday said the children, one boy and one girl, were aged 21 months and 11 months, respectively, and were secured in car seats in the back of the yellow Kia Picanto hatchback when it was taken from the Richardson Street residence.
Insp. Kelly said the exact time the vehicle was stolen was unknown but the keys were in the ignition and the motor was running.
He said police were alerted at 10.15pm on Thursday night and found the vehicle with the engine running and keys in the ignition a 'short distance' away on the corner of Ivanhoe and Piesse streets about 11.05pm.
The children were inside the vehicle but there was no sign of the person or people who had stolen the vehicle.
'The children while unharmed were visibly shaken and crying,' he said.
Insp. Kelly said the situation had left the mother 'distraught'.
'Kalgoorlie detectives have carriage of this investigation, and I'm calling on anyone with any leads, any dashcam footage, CCTV footage to please contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000,' he said.
He said the detectives would conduct a 'thorough' investigation.
'We believe it's more of a crime of opportunity, we do not believe it has been a targeted incident (involving) the owner, the mother of the two children.'
Insp. Kelly also said the incident was a timely reminder that there was 'no excuse' for leaving children unattended in any vehicle.
He said parents had a duty to their children to take the extra time to remove them from a vehicle, even if they were asleep, and to put them inside, and secure the vehicle.
'Here's an example where a person, or persons, have seen a vehicle running and taken that vehicle,' he said.
He emphasised the main focus of the investigation was 'to identify, locate apprehend the person or persons involved that committed this offence'.
'At the conclusion of this investigation — the priority is to locate those that took the vehicle, that is our main focus — (but) whether or not the mother is spoken to in relation to that is a matter for Kalgoorlie detectives at a certain point,' he said.
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