In a dramatic turn of events, a thief in Delhi stole a car with two children inside and later demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh from the parents, police said on Saturday.
The incident took place when the parents left their children, aged two and eleven, inside the car with its engine running and went to a nearby confectionery shop.
According to officials, the incident occurred at around 11.40 pm on Friday when a couple left their two children in a parked car with the engine running and AC on while they visited Heera Sweets in Laxmi Nagar area. During this brief period, the thief opened the car door and drove off with the children inside.
When the duo came back, their vehicle and children were missing. The kidnapper then contacted the parents, demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakhs. The negotiations were conducted through the phone of the children's mother, who was with the kidnapped daughter at the time of the abduction.
Later, the couple approached the police and lodged a complaint.
Upon receiving the information, police rushed a rescue team which started chasing the car based on technical surveillance.
After a three-hour high-speed chase involving around 20 police vehicles, the kidnapper abandoned the vehicle with the children inside and escaped. Fortunately, both children were found safe and sound and were quickly reunited with their parents.
"The kidnappers were constantly changing their route. He reached Wazirabad via Ashok Nagar and then the Outer North district. He realised that the police were chasing him, which is why he kept changing routes," Additional DCP East, Avnish Kumar said.
"The accused also had a hammer and a knife," the additional DCP pointed out.
Valuables, including jewellery and mobile phones, were also found intact, as the kidnapper had no time to take anything when he realised he was being pursued from all sides by the police, the official said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway and cops are scanning CCTV footage of the area to identify the accused.
"The suspect will be arrested soon," Kumar said.
