KEY POINTS:
A mother's nightmare came true when a thief took off with her daughter in the family's car.
Two-year-old Antoinette Katipa was sitting in the back seat of the car outside her home in Papakura, when it was stolen at 2pm yesterday.
Her uncle had left the keys in the ignition while he unloaded groceries.
Another woman who was in the car was able to escape but Antoinette was left inside, Detective Sergeant Craig Taylor said.
After a search involving a helicopter and police units, the car was found abandoned 100m away outside a dairy at the intersection of Cross and Wilson Rs, Papakura, around 3.30pm. Antoinette was still in the back seat and uninjured. The car was not damaged.
Her mother, Marina Katipa, held her tight as she spoke to 3News last night: "We're very happy, very relieved she's fine," she said.
The offender is described as Maori or Islander in his late 30s who was wearing black sunglasses and a black scarf. The car was a Silver Mitsubishi Eterna Sava saloon and it was taken from Rollerson St, Papakura.
Anyone with information should contact the crime squad on 027 497 4912 or (09) 261 1300.
