Six young children have been found safe and well after the car they were in was stolen from a shopping centre and then ditched in WA’s Goldfields, police say.
The children were caught up in the terrifying incident when a Holden Captiva SUV was allegedly taken from a carpark on Lionel St in South Kalgoorlie, 600km east of Perth, about 10.40am on Wednesday.
Police said the vehicle was located a short time later, abandoned on Carlyle Ct in nearby Boulder.
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The children, aged between one and nine, were found “safe and unharmed”.
“It will be alleged the accused fled the vehicle on foot and was apprehended at a residence on Taylor Wy in Boulder,” police said.
A 39-year-old man from Cloverdale in Perth, has been charged with six counts of deprivation of liberty; two counts of breaching protective bail; stealing a motor vehicle; stealing; and having no authority to drive.
He was refused bail and is set to appear in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Thursday.