Moment of shock in BaWü: A mother just wanted to get something for a short time.
Then a man sped away in her BMW.
Her daughter (11) was still in the back seat.
Kehl – According to initial findings, a man (44) is said to have stolen a BMW from a parking lot in Kehl am Rhein (Baden-Württemberg) – with an 11-year-old child in the back seat.
The mother had parked the car around 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon in the area of the station district and, according to the police, left the key in the car.
She just wanted to run a quick errand.
BaWü: BMW thief kidnapped girl (11) in the back seat - chase on the German-French border
According to eyewitness reports, the 44-year-old got behind the wheel and raced to France with the girl in the car.
When the Police Nationale took up the pursuit there, the car thief drove back to Germany via the Pierre Pflimlin Bridge and steered the car south at the junction of the A5 motorway in Offenburg.
According to their own statements, several police vehicles followed the BMW to Kappel-Grafenhausen.
The 44-year-old was found there and arrested for the time being.
The 11-year-old girl was taken to safety by the police.
Despite the "daring journey", the child remained unharmed.
At 3.50 p.m. the operation was successfully completed.
Dramatic chase in BaWü - police are looking for witnesses
The thief was apparently under the influence of drugs, police said.
In addition, he is said to have damaged several cars, some of them significantly, on his escape route with the stolen BMW.
The investigators are assuming at least two accidents in Kappel, and there would be further body damage in Rust.
Other victims and witnesses to the incident are asked to contact the police on 0781 214200.
The suspect is now being investigated for theft and strong suspicion of deprivation of liberty.
"According to the current status of investigations by the police officers, the motive for the suspect known to the police is likely to be the theft of the car," the police said.
The 44-year-old Turk is therefore registered in France and known to the police.
The public prosecutor's office in Offenburg had requested a provisional arrest, and an arrest warrant would also be examined promptly.
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