Thief dumps stolen SUV with baby inside

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - In 45 seconds, a St. Petersburg father says someone stole his SUV, with his baby in the backseat, right out of his driveway on Wednesday morning.

Cameron Mazoochi is in the process of moving. Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, after loading his Lexus SUV and strapping his 1-year-old daughter Madison into her car seat,  he ran inside his house to grab allergy medication before pulling off.

"I was in there less than a minute, about 45 seconds, and I hear tires screeching," said Mazoochi.

His home surveillance video captured a white sedan pull up in front of the house. A man dressed in all black runs towards Mazoochi's SUV, quickly driving off in the vehicle behind the white car.

Mazoochi came running out of the house in a panic. He knocked on several neighbor's doors, because his cellphone was still in his vehicle.

Someone allowed him to use their phone to call 911, as another neighbor circled the block to search for the stolen vehicle. The neighbor and St Petersburg Police spotted the SUV abandoned a few blocks away. Madison was still strapped in her car seat and unharmed.

"I just kissed her, I just hugged her, I just, had no words really," said Mazoochi. "If I had any thought that it could have happened in 45 seconds, I would never have taken that chance, but it's just like if you are leaving your house for work or wherever and say, 'Oh, I forgot my coffee, I forgot the paper, I forgot the folder.' That's how quick it happened," he added.

St. Pete police believe the suspects could be in their teens to early 20s. They are hoping someone will recognize the man or the vehicle caught on surveillance video and give them a call at 727- 893-7780 or text SPPD+ a tip to TIP411.