Baby found safe after car stolen in Toronto

A Toronto Police cruiser is seen in this undated file photo.

Toronto police say a three-month old baby that was inside a stolen car has been found safe after an Amber Alert was issued on Sunday afternoon.

The alert was issued for the baby boy and the car after it was stolen from a parking lot in northwest Toronto around the dinner hour. Hours later, both the vehicle and the baby were located in a neighbourhood in the city's west end.

In an interview shortly before reuniting with her baby, the child's mother expressed relief.

"I feel much better now that I know that my baby is OK,” the woman said. She also thanked Toronto police for their help.

The car was taken from a flea market parking lot. Police said the father got out of his vehicle to go inside the market and left the infant in the back seat. As he came out of the market, his vehicle was being driven away, police said. He chased it but couldn't reach the vehicle as it left the area.

“I just want to thank … the Toronto police, they did a fantastic job,” the baby’s father, Vakil Yosufi, told reporters following the ordeal.

Police said there was a tremendous response from the public after the Amber Alert was issued.

The suspect in the car theft was still being sought late Sunday evening, police said.

He is described as a white male, between the ages of 40 and 45, with short blond hair, medium build and a height of five foot 11.

Investigators said they are not ruling out any motives for the alleged car theft, and are trying to determine whether the suspect was aware that there was a baby in the backseat.

With files from CP24 and The Canadian Press