Child in stolen car drama: 'That naughty man did it'

Benjamin Bryant  holds his boys, Jake  and Cooper Wells, who were taken for an unexpected drive...
Benjamin Bryant holds his boys, Jake and Cooper Wells, who were taken for an unexpected drive during a car robbery on Thursday night. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
The man (right) who allegedly stole the car is captured on the service station's security camera....
The man (right) who allegedly stole the car is captured on the service station's security camera. Photo by NZ Police.

Jake Wells does not remember his parents' car being stolen, or the fact it was driven at up to 150kmh before crashing.

But he does remember one thing.

"That naughty man did it," the almost 3-year-old told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.

Jake and his sleeping brother, Cooper (1), became kidnap victims when a man allegedly stole the car from the Mobil Forbury service station on Hillside Rd.

The two boys were asleep in their car seats after visiting their mother, who gave birth to another boy at Dunedin Hospital on Wednesday night.

The father of Jake and Cooper, Benjamin Bryant (22), had parked outside the service station at 10.20pm to get a drink, while a friend stayed in the passenger seat to look after the children.

"I was grabbing the drink out of the fridge and saw my mate walking in, and then I noticed my wheels driving away," Mr Bryant said.

"My first instinct was not the kids. I didn't think of them or remember them straight away ... just my wheels."

When he sprinted outside, he realised his two boys were still in the back seat of the car being driven away on Hillside Rd.

"I pretty much went nuts, yelling to the guy behind the counter to call the police," as he ran after the car on foot.

Mr Bryant said he thought the children had been kidnapped.

CCTV footage shows a man entering the store to talk to an employee before leaving without buying anything. Moments later, a clearly upset Mr Bryant can be seen indicating that his car had been stolen.

Mr Bryant said he was shocked to learn from police that a witness had clocked the car being driven erratically while reaching speeds of up to 150kmh on State Highway 1 south.

The same witness saw the driver flee the scene moments after the car crashed south of the Saddle Hill overbridge near Mosgiel, and then discovered the two boys - believed to be asleep - in the back seat.

"I would just like to say thank you to that person," Mr Bryant said.

The alleged offender, who sustained a small cut to his face in the crash, later returned to the scene and was arrested by police.

He recorded a breath-alcohol reading of 1147mcg of alcohol per litre of breath - almost three times the legal limit.

Mr Bryant said the boys were checked by St John staff and found to be unharmed, which police attributed to the fact they were safely restrained in their car seats.

It was early yesterday when Mr Bryant told his partner, Rennae Wells (22), about the theft and that the boys were safe.

Unfortunately for the couple, their only car, a 1999 Subaru GT wagon, was badly damaged in the crash, and the $7000 vehicle was not insured.

Mr Bryant said he did not think the car thief knew the children were in the car, but must have realised at some point, as one of the children swore at the driver during the 10km journey south, according to One News.

And his message to the man?

"If you are going to steal a car, first check kids aren't in the back, I reckon."

While he was still angry at his friend for not staying with the boys, he reminded other parents to lock their vehicles at all times.

Acting Senior Sergeant Tania Baron said it was fortunate no-one was injured or killed.

Police allege the accused man ran from the scene of the crash before returning to the car and being apprehended by officers.

They said he gave a false name, and his true identity was established only after his fingerprints were taken yesterday morning.

- A 25-year-old Invercargill man had been expected to appear in the Dunedin District Court yesterday afternoon, but was given a registrar's adjournment until mid-July.

Charges he faces include driving with excess breath-alcohol, unlawfully taking a vehicle and dangerous driving.

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

 

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