Penang police chief Hamzah Ahmad said the child’s father had left his car with the engine running at the mosque’s parking lot at 8pm while tending to his one-year-old daughter.

A man took the opportunity to steal the vehicle with the child inside, Bernama reported.

The 41-year-old father attempted to chase after the car but was unsuccessful.

At about 3.45am, police managed to track down the vehicle to a petrol station at the Behrang R&R area along the North-South Expressway, heading south, 260km from Tasek Gelugor.

Hamzah said the suspect was sleeping in the car, with the engine running.

“When asked to open the door, the suspect refused and attempted to escape by reversing the vehicle, colliding with a police car behind him,” he said.

When the car stalled,  police broke one of its windows and  detained the suspect.

The child was unharmed.

Hamzah said the suspect, a 36-year-old local resident, had a  record for 10 drug-related offences, including two outstanding warrants and five other criminal cases.

He has been remanded for four days and is being investigated for vehicle theft and kidnapping.

Hamzah advised the public to be more cautious and avoid leaving young children unattended in vehicles, especially with the engine running.