Thief steals car with children in Delhi, demands Rs 50 lakh ransom, abandons vehicle after police chase

NEW DELHI: Thieves stole a car with two children inside and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh, after the parents left the vehicle running while they were at a nearby confectionery shop in Delhi's Laxmi Nagar area.
The incident occurred on Friday night, leading to a three-hour police chase that resulted in the recovery of the children and the car, with the kidnapper still at large.
According to police officials, the incident took place around 11.40pm when a couple left their two children, aged two and eleven, inside a running vehicle with the AC on, parked outside Heera Sweets on Laxmi Nagar Vikas Marg. While the parents were inside the shop purchasing sweets, a suspect drove away with the vehicle.
"The parents had briefly gone inside Heera Sweets to buy sweets when the car was stolen. When they came back, their vehicle and children were missing. Later, they approached the police and lodged a complaint," officials stated.
The kidnapping was immediately reported to the police, who initiated a large-scale rescue operation. The SOS was raised for an eleven-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy who were in the stolen car. The kidnapper contacted the parents through the mother's phone, demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh.
Upon learning about the incident, the police deployed multiple teams to track and recover the stolen vehicle. SHO Shakarpur and the victim's mother, along with SHO Laxmi Nagar and the victim's father, were involved in the initial chase. Additional teams from PS Shakarpur, Special Staff, ANS, and ACP Madhu Vihar also joined the search operation.
"Immediately after receiving the information, several teams of Delhi Police were formed. 40 to 50 policemen were chasing the victim's car in 20 vehicles. The kidnapper was constantly changing their route. He reached Wazirabad via Ashok Nagar and then Outer North district. He realized that the police were chasing him, which is why he kept changing routes", said additional DCP East, Avnish Kumar.
The police chase spanned approximately 150 to 200 kilometers, which ultimately pressured the kidnapper to abandon the vehicle. Around 20 police vehicles were involved in the pursuit, and after three hours, the car was found deserted in the Samapur Badli area with the children inside, safe and sound.
"The accused also had a hammer and a knife," said the additional DCP. "Both children are safe and have been reunited with their parents," he added, noting that valuables like jewelry and mobile phones were also intact in the vehicle.
Various police teams from the Outer North district and Railway Protection Force (RPF) participated in the frantic search and rescue. Officials are now examining CCTV footage from the area to identify and apprehend the suspect. "The suspect will be arrested soon," they assured.
The incident has left the community in shock and underscores the effectiveness of quick police action in crisis situations. Authorities continue to investigate to bring the perpetrator to justice and ensure the safety of all involved.