Stolen Car with Child Inside Prompts Amber Alert, Boy Found Safe at Connecticut Hotel
ICARO Media Group
In a dramatic turn of events, a young boy who was inside a stolen car in Massachusetts has been safely located at a hotel in Connecticut, and the suspect responsible is now facing criminal charges. The incident resulted in an Amber Alert being activated, mobilizing authorities and garnering public attention.
The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Vadim Vorobyov from Springfield, is now facing charges of kidnapping, child endangerment, and being a fugitive from justice in Connecticut. He is also expected to be charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and motor vehicle larceny in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts State Police.
The incident unfolded when Vorobyov allegedly stole a red 2021 Toyota Camry from outside a residence on Exchange Street in Chicopee. Shocking surveillance footage obtained by Boston 25 showed a woman placing the 3-year-old boy in the car before walking away. Within moments, the suspect hopped into the driver's seat and drove away, sparking an urgent search.
Authorities were able to track the stolen vehicle using a license plate reader, which captured the Camry heading south on Route 91 in Longmeadow. The car was later discovered in a Stop & Shop parking lot at 1095 Kennedy Road in Windsor, Connecticut, around 10:30 a.m. However, neither Vorobyov nor the child were found inside the vehicle.
Shortly afterward, Sudhir Shrestha, the general manager of the Rodway Inn & Suites on Bridge Street in East Windsor, contacted the police to report that a child had been left on their property by Vorobyov. Surveillance video from the hotel captured the suspect dropping off the toddler in the parking lot before leaving.
"I saw the car stop and when the car stopped and left, I saw the kid in the parking lot and was like 'Oh, this is the kid'," Shrestha recounted. "I told them this is the kid, okay."
Vorobyov was later apprehended at the nearby Anytime Fitness and taken into custody, resulting in the deactivation of the Amber Alert. The child, thankfully unharmed, was transported to a Massachusetts hospital for a precautionary examination.
"We are grateful to the many members of the public and media outlets who quickly shared information," stated the state police in a recent press release. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains unclear when Vorobyov will be called to court to face the charges against him.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and quick action in cases involving abduction and child endangerment. The collaboration between law enforcement, the public, and the media played a vital role in ensuring the safe recovery of the young boy.