7-Year-Old Australian Child Kidnapped by Robber... Escapes After 10 Hours

Published 13 Oct.2020 16:22(KST)

Unintentionally Kidnapped by a Car Thief
Hiding in the Car and Asking for Help at a House

Joseph Eaton (7), who was kidnapped while sleeping in the back seat of a car but returned safely [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] In Australia, a 7-year-old child was kidnapped 20 km away from home but used his wits to return to his mother after 10 hours.

On the 13th, the British Daily Mail reported that a 7-year-old boy named Joseph Eaton, who was asleep in the back seat of a car, was kidnapped by a car thief but returned to his mother's arms.

According to the Daily Mail, Eaton was traveling with his family on the 10th and arrived home in Perth, Australia, around 8:40 p.m., but he was deeply asleep and remained inside the car.

Eaton's mother, suffering from motion sickness and fatigue from driving, left the car running and took only her younger son inside the house, expecting her eldest son to follow.

However, she entered the house leaving the car running, and a thief appeared, quickly stealing the vehicle and fleeing. Eaton, who was asleep in the back seat, was unintentionally kidnapped.

At that moment, Eaton woke up, realized the kidnapping situation, and calmly hid without crying or panicking until the thief stopped the car. The thief glanced once at the back seat but did not notice the child due to the nighttime darkness.

After confirming that the thief had left the car and disappeared, Eaton did not get out immediately but waited until dawn. Around 5:45 a.m., he found the nearest house and knocked on the door to ask for help.

The woman, a mother of two children who welcomed Eaton, was surprised but immediately called the police after Eaton said, "I am lost. I don't know where this is." With the help of the police, Eaton was finally reunited with his mother after 10 hours.