Stolen car found
abandoned with
infant safe inside

COURTESY KITV4 NEWS Maryann Corpuz hugged 5-month-old baby Aryanna after yesterday's incident in which a man drove off with the Corpuz car -- with Aryanna still inside. The car, with baby safe inside, was found a few blocks away in Liliha.

A parent's worst nightmare came true in Liliha yesterday after a thief took a man's car with his 5-month-old daughter in it.

But it had a happy ending with infant Aryanna Corpuz left unharmed when the car was abandoned a few blocks away.

Raymond Corpuz had left the engine of his Honda running while he picked up lunch at the Golden Coin Bakery, 1719 Liliha St.

While he was in there, an unknown male suspect jumped in his car and drove off, witnesses told police.

"He was ordering food, then all of a sudden he ran out and one of the cooks saw him chasing a car," said Golden Coin employee Mayvelyn Camagong. "I heard what happened later.

"I would be devastated," Camagong said.

Police said a witness who saw what was happening also tried to help.

"He saw the guy get in the car and tried to stop him," said Honolulu police spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii. "Then, the father saw the commotion and tried to stop the car but the suspect kept going."

Police were called immediately and were preparing to issue a Maile Alert when patrol units located the stolen car a few blocks away at 216 Puuhue Place at 11:03 a.m. Aryanna was unharmed and reunited with Corpuz.

The suspect remains at large.

"We are working on putting together a description by witnesses," Fujii said.

"Fortunately, we had a positive outcome this time, but it's a good time to remind parents not to leave their kids in cars," he said.