:-: Missing girl taken in Newham car theft found :-:
POLICE HANDOUT:-: Missing girl taken in Newham car theft found :-:
A 17-month-old girl taken during a car theft has been found safe and well.
Maria Tudorica was taken in Nine Acres Close, Newham, east London, at 16:37 GMT.
Scotland Yard tweeted just before 20:00 that she had been found less than a mile away in the Ruskin Avenue area.
Maria was in the front passenger seat of a black Audi A5 when her father met an unknown man with a view to selling the car - but the thief jumped in and drove away.
The empty vehicle was later found abandoned in nearby Hatherway Crescent.
Delighted to report that missing child Maria Tudorica aged 17months has now been found safe and well in the Ruskin Avenue, E12 area. Thanks to media and all members of the public who have helped with this appeal.
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End of Twitter post by @metpoliceuk
A huge police search was launched for Maria, who was born in Romania but lives in the local area with her family.
When his niece was found, Maria's uncle, 25-year-old car trader Gheorghe Stelica said: "God bless. I feel born again.
"I feel am a new guy. I feel over a thousand times relief. My brother, he's happy. He thank so much the police for their service."
Mr Stelica said he had asked his brother, 35-year-old Claudia Stelica, to show the car to the "buyer" as a favour because he was out of London.
'Didn't seem suspicious'
"I put the car on sale today and one guy called me on my phone," he said.
"He didn't seem suspicious on the phone, he was talking very nicely. I said to him 'if you don't want to wait for me, no problem'."
Mr Stelica said his brother placed Maria inside the car as he demonstrated the engine, but the thief jumped in and drove off.
"He jumped up in the driver's side and - boom - straight away he went with the car," he added.
The man who took the car is described as Asian, of slim build and dressed in black clothing.
The Met is appealing for information and witnesses.
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