A THIEF inadvertently kidnapped a sleeping two-year-old while stealing a family's Range Rover yesterday.

The thief sparked a citywide search by dozens of police after taking the family's £25,000 vehicle while the two-and-a-half-year-old girl's mother was taking in the shopping.

The youngster was still strapped in her car seat as the thief - who is believed to have had an accomplice in a car following - sped off in Headington yesterday afternoon.

Urgent appeals for help to trace the 2003 Range Rover with blacked-out windows were made and it was found dumped in Osler Road in Headington about half an hour after it was stolen.

The little girl was still in her seat and was not hurt.

Last night, she was safe at home as her relieved parents recovered from their ordeal.

Her mother - who has asked not to be identified - said: "We were unloading shopping from the car whilst our baby daughter was asleep in her rear car seat.

"The Range Rover has blacked-out windows and was parked outside the front door on our private driveway."

She added: "This was an extremely distressing time and we are incredibly relieved that our daughter was found safe and well and that no harm came to her."

Police spokesman Victoria Bartlett said about 50 police staff and the force's helicopter were involved in the search for the car and child.

Appeals were put out to local media with a description of the Range Rover and one member of the public spotted it in Headington at 3pm.

Police scrambled to Osler Road where they found the Range Rover abandoned. It is not known why the crook ditched the car.

Last night police were still looking for the thief. They believe a dark green new-style BMW 3 Series was in convoy with the stolen car and appealing for witnesses who saw it.

The girl's mum said: "We are extremely grateful for the prompt action of the police and the resources that were allocated immediately.

"We also thank the media and everyone who helped in the search for our daughter."

Miss Bartlett said: "We alerted every available patrol car and roads policing car in Oxford to search for the car because our main priority was the child's welfare.

"Obviously the child was potentially in danger of being injured and we are just grateful that that did not happen.

"We would also like to thank all the people who helped us search for the Range Rover.

"We hope the little girl and her parents recover quickly from the incident."

Anyone with any information about the thief or the green BMW can call Oxford police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.