Dad's stolen car recovered, with baby safe inside

BY David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

A father left his car running with the keys in the ignition and his 5-month-old child in a car seat when the vehicle was stolen outside a take-out restaurant yesterday.

The car was recovered about 20 minutes later with the infant still in the car and unhurt.

Police Capt. Frank Fujii said the incident began about 10:38 a.m. yesterday when the child's father went into the Golden Coin bakeshop on Liliha Street to buy some food.

"Not only did he leave the keys in the car, he left the engine running," Fujii said.

A stranger then approached the car, got in and began to drive off, Fujii said.

"A bystander saw what was happening and tried to stop the car. The dad heard the commotion and ran out of the bakery and pounded on the windows, but the guy took off with the car and the baby in the back seat," he said.

He said a bulletin was issued for the gray, Honda sedan and that a partial license-plate number was broadcast.

May Camagone, who works the counter at the restaurant where the car was taken, said a "regular" customer came in to pick up some food yesterday morning. While ordering, the customer looked outside and then took off down the street after his car, she said.

Camagone said no one in the store got a look at the man who took the customer's car.

Police converged on the area and found the car at 11:03 a.m., fronting 216 Pu'uhue Place.

The father was taken to the site and was reunited with his child. Police did not release his name.

Staff writer Peter Boylan contributed to this report. Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-7412.