Police: Baby Found Safe After Vehicle Stolen In Bay Shore
BAY SHORE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An infant was found safe after police said she was inside a running car when it was stolen on Long Island.
Gail Solomon, 43, left her car running outside a Subway shop on Union Boulevard in Bay Shore at around 8 a.m. Monday to pick up what she said was a sandwich for her 9-year-old's field trip. Zuriel James, her four-month-old niece, was left in the vehicle, 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported.
Within seconds, her car was gone when a carjacker took off with the baby inside, police said. A store clerk told CBS2 she immediately called 911 while Solomon ran after the car screaming and crying.
Officers descended on Bay Shore searching for the car and baby, which was quickly found blocks away on Cherry Street. The baby girl was still inside and was not hurt, police said.
"The baby was awake, just very alert," a police officer who responded to the call for help told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
"Fortunately, some guys ran after the car and the guy ditched the car right here," resident Michelle Thomas told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff.
"They had the helicopter, the dogs, everything out," another man said.
The baby's mother was summoned from work in her medical scrubs and was reunited with her daughter.
Customers were relieved the child was safe, but stunned over how it happened.
"You should never leave your kids in the car,"one woman said. "It's a hassle, but just take 'em in because these days everybody is just waiting to steal a car."
Police are now looking for three suspects who they believe may have been involved. Police think the man who took the car exited on Union Boulevard and picked up two other people before they ditched the car and fled.
"Shortly after leaving that immediate area of the Subway two other individuals jumped into the vehicle as well -- associates of the driver," Suffolk Police Inspector Robert Brown said.
Solomon has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Third Squad at 631-854-8352 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
