Man accused of briefly stealing car with baby inside at Florida gas station

Surveillance video captured the tense moments when a man drove off in a car with a one-year-old child inside — then returned seconds later.

(NBC)- Surveillance video captured the tense moments when a man drove off in a car with a one-year-old child inside — then returned seconds later.

Authorities say 53-year-old William Mullis took the vehicle from a Sunoco gas station along U.S. Highway 1 in Brevard County. Video shows the baby’s mother rushing out of the convenience store and toward the car just as Mullis backed up and drove off.

According to an arrest affidavit, the woman managed to confront Mullis when he returned moments later. Mullis reportedly told her he “would not have stolen the car if he knew the baby was inside” and then apologized before leaving the area.

Brevard County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tod Goodyear called it every parent’s worst fear.

“I mean, I’m sure this is a parent’s worst nightmare. You know, in this case, she’s very lucky that this guy saw that there was a child in the car, got a case of remorse and decided to drive back and give her her car back with her child in it,” Goodyear said.

Under Florida law, a parent or guardian cannot leave a child under six years old unattended in a vehicle for more than 15 minutes. While investigators say the mother had only stepped inside briefly, Goodyear says the incident underscores how fast danger can unfold.

“I have three kids. I have four grandkids, and it’s a pain to take the kids out of the car when you’re going in for just a short period of time,” Goodyear said. “But this kind of reinforces — you never know what’s going to happen. You never know who’s watching you.”

Authorities say both the mother and child were unharmed, and the investigation into the incident continues.