An alleged car thief in regional Victoria made a quick stop upon discovering a baby asleep in the back seat.

According to reports, the incident occurred just before 2 p.m. on November 14. The vehicle, with the child inside, was parked outside a supermarket on Maude Street in Shepparton.

As the owner briefly stepped into the store, an unidentified man reportedly seized the opportunity to steal the red Volkswagen, reversing it out of the parking space.

After noticing the sleeping baby in the rear seat, the suspect got out of the car, removed the child, and placed the toddler in a box in the parking area before fleeing the scene.

Upon the owner’s return, they quickly located their child and alerted authorities, according to police statements.

The missing vehicle was subsequently recovered the following day in the Mooroopna vicinity.

Police have released CCTV and images of the incident.

The alleged offender is described as being aged in his 20s to 30s, with a slim build, and about 165cm in height.

He was wearing a black cap backwards, navy headphones, a blue Golden State basketball singlet, black shorts, light blue runners and black sweatbands on both wrists.