A frantic search that lasted over an hour for a vehicle that had a sleeping baby inside when a thief stole the car from a location in Irvington was located with the child inside safe in Newark's South Ward Tuesday night.
Township police alerted multiple municipalities in Essex County to be on the lookout for a grey Mercedes Benz SUV -with temporary Texas license plates- that was stolen in the 1100 block of Clinton Avenue around 8:10 p.m.
Police believe that the vehicle was left running when the lurking thief entered the car and sped the scene eastbound on Clinton Avenue towards Newark. The suspect may not have known that the baby was asleep in the rear passenger seat.
At approximately 10:15 p.m, police in Newark South Ward found the car in the area of 10 Osborne Terrace.
The child was still sleeping inside the vehicle unharmed, but the suspect fled the scene and remained at large.
Police have launched an investigation.