Car thief took blind grandmother on joyride before robbing her in Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut -- A car thief in Connecticut took a blind grandmother on a joyride before robbing her.

It was cold outside Wednesday night and the victim's grandson needed to grab just a few things from the store on Madison Avenue.

So, he figured he'd leave the car running for his 69-year-old blind grandmother, sitting in the back.

He was gone for "just two" minutes, but when he came back his car with his grandmother inside were both gone.

Bridgeport Police say a man kidnapped a blind grandmother for 30 minutes on Wednesday night.

Surveillance video released by police captured the moment just before the crime.

69-year-old Josefa Avila was taken for a joy ride.

Avila and her grandkids declined to go on camera saying they feel bad for the suspect, because he seemed desperate and they don't want to make him feel worse about what he did.

They say the suspect knew Avila was in the car when he sped off.

During the ride the grandmother prayed for the man, patting him on the back and telling him it would be ok.

The suspect then stole her cell phone, $70 cash, and her state ID card.

Police say let this be a lesson learned.

"You're going to leave the car running because you're going to be in and out in a minute or two minutes, but that was enough time for this to happen," said Michael Giannotti, Public Information Officer for Bridgeport Police and Fire.

The suspect eventually dropped Avila off on Fairfield Avenue where she made her way to a grocery store and had an employee drive her to her son's home not far away.

"She's ok. A little upset obviously, but it turned out really well for us," Giannotti said.

Avila told police the suspect never brandished a weapon.

Her granddaughter says he never laid a finger on her.

She says her grandmother is at home now resting and praying for the man who robbed her.