A FRANTIC mum begged a car thief to stop as he drove away with her three-month-old baby dozing inside. The 28-year-old, of Valence Avenue, Dagenham had stepped out of the 4x4 Mercedes at the baby s grandmother s home in Clayhall, with her four-year-old da

A FRANTIC mum begged a car thief to stop as he drove away with her three-month-old baby dozing inside.

The 28-year-old, of Valence Avenue, Dagenham had stepped out of the 4x4 Mercedes at the baby's grandmother's home in Clayhall, with her four-year-old daughter when the thief leapt into the car, which had the keys in the ignition.

As he started to reverse out of the driveway the mum ran over and hammered on the windows.

She told the Recorder: "I kept screaming at him not to take the car as my baby was inside, I was shouting it over and over.

"I followed the car as fast as I could, but when he disappeared I just could not control myself. My mum was panicking and my little girl was in tears.

"I called the police but couldn't register what they were saying.

"For a second I thought the thief was joking. It was absolutely devastating."

Teams of police officers rushed to the scene and scoured the area. They found the vehicle abandoned in neighbouring street Lord Avenue - with the baby boy still fast asleep in the back seat.

The mum admitted she is haunted by the horror, which happened on Friday.

She said: "The thief must have panicked because he didn't get very far.

"I am so thankful to God the man had the conscience to realise the seriousness of the situation.

"I cannot sleep anymore because I see the man's face every time I close my eyes."

She said she is afraid of leaving her children alone again and added: "I never thought anything like this would happen.

"I was only a few steps away from the car and I thought it would be perfectly safe on the driveway.

"I don't think I will ever forget about this."

The car thief is white and thought to be aged between 25 and 30. He is about 6ft tall, of a medium build and has short, cropped blond hair.

He was wearing a green jumper with red horizontal stripes, navy jogging bottoms and white trainers. It is thought he was wearing sunglasses.

Officers are appealing for witnesses and urging drivers not to leave children when they leave their cars and to ensure they never leave keys in the ignition.

Anyone with information can call training Det Con Adam Whitehall on 020 8345 2766 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.