SHARJAH // A thief who stole a car from outside a shopping mall drove off with more than he had bargained for - two sleeping children.
The youngsters' father had left his car's engine running while visiting the mall in Al Qassimiya on Monday evening, leaving his two children - aged four and seven - asleep on the back seat.
Noticing there was no driver, the thief climbed in and drove away. But a short distance later, he saw the sleeping children and abandoned the car.
When the father returned to discover his vehicle was missing he alerted other shoppers and the police were called. After a brief search the car was found. Both children had slept through the entire incident.
A police spokesman said drivers should never leave children unattended in a car, as the consequences were potentially fatal.
A baby girl died on Al Wahda Road last year when she was left in a car with all the windows closed.
