Motorist is charged ‘after taking off in a Subaru during a test drive’ – while the owner’s five-year-old son was still in the back
- A man, 32, has been charged after allegedly stealing a car during a test drive
- Two suspects sped off with the owner’s son in the car as he went to swap seats
- Another man, 35, charged when the car turned up painted black on Tuesday
A man has been charged after allegedly taking off in a Subaru during a test drive while the owner’s five-year-old child was still in the back.
A 32-year old man was arrested on Sunday after allegedly stealing the blue car from Hope Valley, in Adelaide’s north east, two weeks ago.
He was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, theft and making off without payment of fuel, ABC News reports.
A 32-year old man was arrested on Sunday after allegedly stealing the blue car (pictured) from Hope Valley, in Adelaide’s north east, two weeks ago
Another man, 35, was arrested for unlawful possession when the car was found painted black in Smithfield Plains on Tuesday.
The boy was dropped off 300 metres away unharmed.
The incident unfolded when the car’s owner advertised its sale on Gumtree and arranged for the man to test drive the vehicle around 7.30pm on September 30.
Police said the man and a woman arrived to test-drive the vehicle in the company of the father and the son, but asked if they could have a turn behind the wheel.
As the owner went to sit in the front passenger’s seat, it is alleged the male suspect drove off with the female suspect and the boy seated in the back.
As the owner went to sit in the front passenger’s seat, it is alleged the male suspect drove off with the female suspect and the boy seated in the back (stock image)
The owner chased the suspects in another vehicle, finding his son a short distance away.
While the father said his wife was shaken by the incident, he said it didn’t appear to affect his son.
‘He thought it was just fun or a joke, maybe because he’s little and doesn’t understand,’ he said.