Greater Dandenong Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man following the theft of a vehicle with a child inside in Dandenong on Monday, July 24.
It is alleged a black Kia Carnival was stopped on Cleeland St in Dandenong about 3.25pm, the driver got out of the car to speak to another motorist.
A man jumped into the car and drove off with the toddler still in the backseat.
The two-year-old boy was located a short time later at a supermarket in Ferntree Gully about 4.35pm and was not injured during the incident.
The vehicle was located abandoned in Coldstream about 7pm on Monday night by a member of the public.
Police arrested a man in Dandenong about 3pm Tuesday (July 25).
The 24-year-old Dandenong man has been charged with child stealing, theft of motor vehicle, unlicenced driving, commit indictable offence whilst on bail.
He was to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.