A carjacker took off with a child inside a running car outside a business in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was caught a short distance away after he took the child out of the car, officials said.
The driver of a Honda Pilot went inside an auto store on the 1100 block of Chestnut Street and left his 2-year-old daughter in the backseat, according to the mayor's office. He was there for seconds when the carjacker hopped into the car and drove away.
The carjacker realized the child was in the car and stopped in front of a Salvation Army and removed the child, still in her car seat, from the vehicle, officials said.
The suspect was located a short distance away by police, and after a short chase, he jumped from the car while it was in reverse, according to authorities. He was apprehended on Walnut Street.
The damage from the crash was minimal, and no one was hurt, authorities said.
The suspect, 49-year-old Andre McKainion of Newark, was arrested on charges of carjacking, motor vehicle theft, eluding police, resisting arrest and several motor vehicle violations, officials said.
It wasn't immediately clear if McKainion had retained an attorney.
