Child taken in stolen car

Police said the child was very distressed

A nine-year-old girl has been left badly shaken after a youth stole her grandfather's car from a petrol station in Belfast while she was inside.

The man left the keys in the ignition of the Peugeot 306 as he went to pay for fuel at about 1530 GMT on Monday.

Police said the child, Tammy Lea Menagh, was very distressed, but was unharmed after the thief left her a short distance from the York Road petrol station.

The vehicle, registration number DCZ 3284, was then driven off along Parkmount Street and onto North Queen Street.

The girl said: "I was thinking if I was going to die or if I was going to be okay. I was just panicking."

Her father, Liam Menagh, said it was a terrifying experience.

"She said to him: 'Please let me out, please let me out'," he said.

The thief stopped at North Queen Street, swore at the girl and told her to get out.

"Luckily enough he didn't touch her in anyway or hurt her. He just took the car and she was in it - it would be scary for that to happen to an adult let alone a nine-year-old child. I just hope they catch the guy," said her father.

Police said the thief was aged about 15, was wearing a white top, gold chains and a white baseball cap.

Police have appealed for people to be careful about leaving keys in their cars.