Kozhikode: Alert residents and vehicle owners caught a man who tried to steal a car at Kuttiadi here. Police arrested A Vijeesh, who drove the parked vehicle off with the owner's girl child sleeping inside.

The incident happened on Thursday afternoon. The couple and the child arrived from the Middle East a week ago. On their way to the woman's maternal home, the couple parked the car and got out to shop at a bakery. They left the car ignition on as the child was sleeping.

The AC was also turned on. While the couple was busy purchasing, Vijeesh drove the car off. It is assumed that he did not know the child was inside the car. After travelling for almost two hours, he dropped the child off on the roadside. The couple alerted local residents, who started chasing him.

Eyewitnesses said Vijeesh was driving slowly. They waylaid him soon and handed him over to the police. It is suspected that he was intoxicated.