Man charged with stealing car with child inside

4:03 pm on 5 May 2017

A Rotorua man has been arrested after a woman was robbed in front of her children and, in a separate incident, a car was stolen with a child still inside.

High Court in Rotorua, Rotorua District Court

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Two weeks ago a woman was forced to the ground and robbed near the Rotorua Central Mall after withdrawing cash from an ATM.

Almost a week later, a car with a two-year-old child inside was stolen from outside a dairy on the corner of Pererika Street and Old Taupo Road.

It was later found abandoned with the child safe and well inside.

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man in relation to both incidents.

He has been charged with robbery, taking a vehicle and abandoning a child under six.

He is due to appear in the Rotorua District Court tomorrow.