‘I was dying … all that burning rubber’
A BABY boy taken on a wild joy ride after his parents’ car was stolen on the Gold Coast is back home with his family while police continue to hunt down the perpetrators.
Five-month-old Jordan’s mum and dad lived out every parent’s worst nightmare when their white Mazda 3 was stolen from their Molendinar garage on Thursday afternoon – with the baby still inside.
The car was found an hour later about 20km away, but police are still searching for those responsible.
CCTV from a nearby house shows the Mazda roaring down the quiet, narrow suburban street hot on the heels of a Toyota Corolla, with the vehicles leaving a trail of burning rubber and skid marks.
Jordan’s frantic dad Chito, who was almost run over during the chaotic scenes, can be heard screaming “Call the police!” as the cars speed off.
On Friday, police were still searching for the offenders, believed to be a group of three youths, with forensics officers studying the abandoned cars for clues.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton from the Gold Coast’s Child Protection Investigation Unit said the case could easily have had a tragic outcome and police would “go as far as we can” to hunt down those responsible.
“The fact there is a fivemonth-old baby boy bouncing around on Mum and Dad’s lap is a great outcome,” he said.
“Being a father myself, I can only think of how horrified I would be to see my baby being taken away by someone I didn’t know under those circumstances. We are lucky no one was hurt.”
The offenders face potential charges, including break and enter and dangerous driving through to kidnapping and deprivation of liberty.
Jordan’s mum Katherine was giving him extra special attention on Friday after feeling like she “was dying” watching her baby disappear in a cloud of burning rubber the previous day as the family prepared to head out for an early dinner.
“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare,” she said. “I was dying, it’s the first time I’ve lost a child. Our emotions were everywhere.”
She also had a message for those responsible: “Whoever took my son, I swear to God, don’t come back.
“It’s very unsafe what they did, this is wrong. It’s a fivemonth-old baby.
“Maybe when you grow up and become a parent you will understand. I just hope they won’t do it again or do it to any other family out there.”
Jordan himself was unhurt during the ordeal and officers who found him in the abandoned car said he “looked very relaxed”.
He was examined by paramedics as a precaution but no concerns were raised.
His mum said he seemed to have taken it all in his stride.
“He loves to go on car rides, so he was probably enjoying himself,” she said.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.