Police are appealing for witnesses after a car was stolen whilst a young child was asleep on the backseat in Chorley.

It happened at around 7:05pm last night (Thursday, January 9^th) when the driver of an Audi Q7 has parked up to collect someone from a house on Lichfield Road. The vehicle was briefly left unlocked with a one-year-old boy asleep in the back.

A man has then got into the car, driving off on to Rydal Place and then Gilbert Street where it got stuck behind a takeaway delivery vehicle.

He has then tried to drive past the delivery car, ramming and damaging seven other stationary cars and a lamppost.

After a brief altercation, the man managed to escape from the front of the car.

A black people carrier or estate-style vehicle with a cracked windscreen approached from behind and took him away.

No one has yet been arrested and officers are asking anyone with information to come forward.

DS Paul Price from Chorley CID said: “We think that the offender’s intention was to steal the car and that it’s likely that they unaware that a child was in the back. Thankfully the young boy wasn’t injured and slept throughout the incident.

“If you know anything about what happened or who was involved, we need to speak to you. Similarly, if you know of a car that matches the description with a cracked windscreen, I would urge you to come forward.

“I would also like to remind people to be mindful with their vehicles, especially those with proximity/ keyless access. Thieves could seize this opportunity to take vehicles no matter how small the time window.”

Anyone with information can call 01257 246190or, if they fail to get an answer, 101, quoting incident 1360 of January 9^th.

Alternatively independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Shocking and frightening!.

As shocking as the crime is, it’s equally shocking that someone would leave their 1 year old child alone in an unlocked car.

Originally Posted by donkey22

As shocking as the crime is, it’s equally shocking that someone would leave their 1 year old child alone in an unlocked car.

No it isn't! You are comparing a deliberate unlawful act of theft (and abduction of a child) with someone leaving their sleeping child in the car while they collect something from a house! It really hacks me off when people blame the victim for a crime!

Originally Posted by K-T

No it isn't! You are comparing a deliberate unlawful act of theft (and abduction of a child) with someone leaving their sleeping child in the car while they collect something from a house! It really hacks me off when people blame the victim for a crime!

No-one is blaming the baby! It is a criminal offence to leave a child in a car IF it places them at risk, which it did. The only victim here is the poor child, so thankful they slept and were not harmed.

What if the child was the target.

Originally Posted by K-T

No it isn't! You are comparing a deliberate unlawful act of theft (and abduction of a child) with someone leaving their sleeping child in the car while they collect something from a house! It really hacks me off when people blame the victim for a crime!

I’m comparing an act of criminality to an act of stupidity. If the child hadn’t been left in the unlocked car alone, the crime would never have been committed. Also known as crime prevention!