SA Police found the four-month-old boy in a capsule in the back seat of his mother’s 2009 white Honda Jazz on Wilkinson Avenue at Enfield, about four kilometres from where the car was stolen.

An active police investigation is still underway to find the alleged kidnapper and thief, described as a Caucasian man with dark hair and aged in his 20s.

The Honda Jazz, which has the numberplate S619AXE, was stolen at about 7.42 this morning outside the Fourth Ave Deli on Fourth Avenue at Klemzig.

Police said as the 29-year-old mother and owner “momentarily left the vehicle” with her son still in the car, the suspect pulled up in a stolen grey Mazda BT ute with the numberplate S672AZT.

He got in the Honda and started driving away, prompting the mother to rush towards her car in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the suspect from driving off. She is uninjured.

The mother and suspect are not believed to be known to each other, with police describing the car theft as “opportunistic”.

The car and baby were later found by police officers at 10.09 this morning after an extensive search involving what Superintendent Matt Nairn described as “every available resource in the metropolitan area”.

An ambulance was called to the scene, but the baby was found “safe and well” and did not need to go to hospital.

Police have released images of the man believed to have stolen a car with a four month old child in the back seat.

“To call it despicable is an understatement,” Nairn told reporters shortly after the baby and car were found.

“We potentially are looking at illegal use and kidnapping.

“It’s more than distressing that a child would be taken under any circumstances.”

Nairn said the mother was “extremely relieved and very, very happy to be reunited with her baby”.

He said the mother planned to get her baby checked by a doctor but he did not need to go to hospital.

“We’re not apportioning any blame on mum at all,” he said.

“Mum’s done her absolute best.”

The alleged offender stole the Mazda ute from East Avenue at Black Forest at 6.20 this morning before heading to Klemzig, where he stole the Honda Jazz.

Police do not know his name and there is no known motive.

“It is a reminder to any parent to be careful,” Nairn said.

“I don’t believe the mother’s done anything wrong in that context.

“I think in this case, everything’s been done by the offender or suspect.”

Nairn said police were currently pursuing “active leads” to find the suspect, with an investigation still ongoing.

He urged anyone who spotted the suspect or stolen cars this morning to contact police on 131444 or 000.

“He (the suspect) wears a very distinctive hat and he’s wearing that tradesman-like clothing,” he said.

“At this stage there’s nothing that gives us an indication that he’s likely to go on and offend in the same (way).”