4-year-old found safe after SUV stolen from Guelph plaza as child slept inside

Police in Guelph are warning people about not leaving pets or children alone in vehicles after an SUV was stolen from a west-end plaza Monday with a sleeping child inside.

4-year-old found safe after SUV stolen from Guelph plaza as child slept inside Police are reminding people not to leave children or pets alone in vehicles Police in Guelph are warning people about not leaving pets or children alone in vehicles after an SUV was stolen from a west-end plaza Monday with a sleeping child inside. Police were called by the child's mother just after 4:20 p.m. to the area of Willow Road and Westwood Road. She told officers her SUV had been stolen with her four-year-old child still inside.

Police say a man stole merchandise from a business in the plaza and when an employee tried to stop him he exposed himself before getting into the SUV and driving away. "Officers from across the city rushed to the area including members of our front-line patrol, traffic unit, drug unit, auto-theft team and general investigations unit," a release sent out Tuesday said. "The Guelph Police Service’s communications unit supported the operation by connecting responding officers to vital information to aid in the search."

Just 16 minutes after the SUV was reported stolen, it was found on a nearby street with the child still asleep inside. The child was not physically injured. A suspect was found nearby and arrested.

As a result, a 29-year-old Guelph man has been charged with motor vehicle theft, theft under $5,000 and committing an indecent act. “I would like to thank our members for their excellent response which ensured this emergency situation was quickly and safely resolved,” said Chief Gord Cobey in the release. Police are reminding people to never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, even for a short time, adding on hot days, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise quickly and create a serious risk of heat-related illness or death.