A thief stole a car while a one-year-old boy was asleep in the back in Chorley.
The Audi Q7 was parked up on Lichfield Road at around 7pm last night (Thursday, January 7) when it was taken by a man.
It had been briefly left unlocked while the driver had parked up to collect someone from a house.
The man got into the car and drove off as the boy slept in the back.
He drove onto Rydal Place and then Gilbert Street, where it got stuck behind a takeaway delivery vehicle.
In a desperate bid to get past the delivery driver, the man rammed into 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 Lancashire Police 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 246190 or, if they fail to get an answer, 101 , quoting incident 1360 of January 9.
Alternatively independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
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