Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping after a car was stolen in Birmingham with the owner’s two children still inside, police have said.
Officers were alerted to what they have called the “shocking incident” at around 5pm on Saturday when a man reported his Seat Leon had been taken from his driveway with his two sons – aged two and four – inside.
“Officers from response, traffic and firearms were immediately dispatched along with our dog units and the helicopter to take part in the search,” West Midlands Police said in a statement.
At one point the stolen car was seen driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway before armed officers were able to bring it to a halt on the A38 Bristol Road near the Belgrave Interchange.
Two male suspects – both aged 15 – escaped from the car but were quickly detained and arrested by police.
They face questioning on suspicion of theft of a vehicle and kidnap.
West Midlands Police’s incident manager Chief Inspector Lee Wiggan said: “This type of incident is every parent’s worst nightmare, but thankfully we were able to stop the car and reunite the family less than 15 minutes after it was stolen.
“It’s a fantastic outcome to what was a very serious, urgent incident and my thanks go to the officers involved as well as West Midlands Ambulance Service for their support.”