By Gillian Lantouris and Lachlan Abbott
A Melbourne father whose two-year-old boy was snatched when an opportunistic thief stole his car while he argued with another motorist says he is relieved and thankful after being reunited his son – partly thanks to the driver he was quarrelling with becoming an unlikely ally.
Massoud Massoud was driving to Dandenong Plaza in Melbourne’s south-east with his son Mohammad on Monday afternoon when he says another driver cut him off in traffic.
Massoud crossed an intersection and says the driver cut him off again – almost causing a collision – and gave him the finger, prompting Massoud to stop his car on Cleeland Street, Dandenong, and exit to speak with the other motorist.
He left his child inside his parked, unlocked car nearby and was arguing for about 20 seconds before he realised there was something amiss.
“As soon as I looked at my car – my car is gone. I couldn’t believe it,” Massoud told Nine News.
Massoud said he quickly resolved his differences with the driver he was arguing with, shaking the person’s hand and explaining his car and toddler had been taken.
Massoud Massoud with his son Mohammad, 2, who was inside a car when it was stolen in Melbourne’s south-east on Monday.Credit: Nine News
Massoud then jumped into his former adversary’s car and tried to chase down the offender – eventually losing the Kia Carnival near Dandenong Hospital.
The father of five then spoke to police and a search began.
“I was really shocked ... I [didn’t] know what to do,” Massoud said. “I even forgot my registration ... I just lost all like my memory [of] like what to say.”
“I was just screaming, and I couldn’t hear what the police [were] asking me.”
In about an hour, Massoud said he was told a child matching his son’s description had been found wandering the aisles at a Woolworths supermarket in Ferntree Gully – about 15 kilometres from where the car was taken. He was then shown a photo to confirm it was his boy.
Massoud said he felt relieved when he knew his second-youngest child was safe.
He was then taken to his son and gave him a long embrace. Mohammad told his father he didn’t cry and wasn’t scared. Massoud thanked police and the community for their help.
“I really appreciate it from my heart. I don’t really have a word to describe – like, I’m really emotional now – what to say to them,” he said.
Massoud Massoud’s car was stolen with his son in the back seat.Credit: Nine News
The driver Massoud initially had a roadside argument with stayed with him until he knew the father had found his son.
“As soon as he found that the kid was okay, he was relieved because he was shocked too,” Massoud said.
Victoria Police said they arrested a 24-year-old Dandenong man over the incident about 3pm on Tuesday.
The alleged offender has been charged with child stealing, theft of a motor vehicle, unlicensed driving and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail, police said in a statement.
Woolworths in Ferntree Gully.Credit: Nine News
He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday evening.
A member of the public found Massoud’s car in Coldstream about 7pm on Monday evening.
Massoud told Nine News he had a message for the perpetrator: “I would say, that’s not a human act. As soon as you see the kid in the car, you should have pulled over and just left the car and just go, say goodbye.”
Anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, information or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.