Kathrine Frich
A small infant was safely strapped into a baby seat, completely unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold.
A quick stop in the driveway is usually a brief, completely safe moment in an otherwise busy day. Most people step away for a split second, expecting everything to remain exactly as they left it. Then, reality flips. An ordinary afternoon can take a terrifying turn in the blink of an eye.
A quiet afternoon shattered
The Queensland Police Service reported that a black Isuzu D-Max was parked outside a Garbutt home on Monday. The large vehicle was sitting idle in a driveway on Sunderland Street at around 1.44pm, right in the middle of a warm Townsville afternoon.
A woman was standing very close to the vehicle at the time. Inside the car, a small infant was safely strapped into a baby seat, completely unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold.
Without warning, unidentified individuals slipped inside the vehicle and hit the accelerator. They drove away before anyone could react. In a matter of seconds, they took the three-month-old child with them into the busy local traffic.
Left on the pavement
The thieves did not travel very far before they realised exactly what was sitting in the back seat. The Townsville Bulletin noted that the offenders were apparently unaware the young child was in the vehicle when they initially jumped behind the wheel.
They quickly stopped the stolen car a short distance down Sunderland Street to deal with the unexpected passenger.
According to a public statement from the police, “The offenders have placed the baby in the car seat on the footpath, before fleeing again.”
It was an incredibly close call for the local family. Paramedics rushed to the scene and assessed the young baby as a strict precaution. Thankfully, no physical injuries were reported by medical staff.
The search continues
Police officers immediately began patrolling the surrounding streets to track down the stolen utility vehicle. They scoured the local Garbutt area thoroughly. Despite their rapid response, the initial search failed to locate the missing black Isuzu.
Sky News Australia reported that the investigation into the frightening incident remains very active. Authorities are now asking the public to stay alert. They want residents to immediately report any sightings of the car to local detectives.
Officers desperately want to speak with anyone who might have dashcam footage or security video from the area on Monday afternoon. The stolen vehicle is easily identifiable. It is currently carrying the Queensland registration plate 840A4B.
Sources: Queensland Police Service, The Townsville Bulletin, Sky News Australia
