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The incident took place in New Haven County around 11:30 p.m., on Sunday, May 2, when the Wolcott Police Department received a 911 call about a car that had just been stolen from the Cumberland Farms, 1655 Meriden Road, with a 5-year-old child inside.
When police arrived on the scene, they learned an 11-year-old boy had jumped out of the car as one of the thieves was driving away, said Wolcott PD Chief Edward Stephens.
A review of the video surveillance footage from the store showed that a blue Kia with several people inside pulled into the lot alongside the victim’s vehicle.
A person from the Kia got out, entered the victim’s car, backed up, and in an attempt to flee, struck another parked vehicle.
"This was when the 11-year-old jumped out," the chief said.
The suspect with the victim’s vehicle -- and the girl inside -- along with the blue Kia, turned right and drove in the direction of Waterbury.
A BOLO ("Be On The Lookout") advisory was immediately issued, and an Amber Alert was processed.
Wolcott and Waterbury's officers began to search for the victim’s car with the child inside.
Around 1:45 a.m., Stephens, who had also been out searching for the child, located the vehicle on Knollwood Drive at Split Rock Drive. It was left in the middle of the street.
The chief located the child in the back seat of the vehicle, sleeping.
The mother was brought to the scene where she was reunited with her daughter.
An ambulance checked out the child, who appeared physically unharmed.
"We are still searching for the suspects in the case, who will not only be charged with stealing the motor vehicle, but also two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of risk of injury to a minor," Stephens said.
The chief said he was relieved the children were found safe.
Anyone with information about the blue Kia or its occupants is asked to call Wolcott police at 203-879-1414.
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