An alleged carjacker abandoned a three-year-old girl on the side of a road in Florida, after stealing her mother’s car.

The suspect, Willio Petioma, 35, was caught, thanks to an anonymous tip off. Officials then obtained surveillance footage showing Mr Petioma leaving the child on the side of the road before driving off. He later discarded the car and used the victim’s credit card in a Family Dollar store.

Preliminary investigations revealed the victims, a mother and her young daughter, were involved in a car accident with another vehicle. While the mother exchanged details with the other driver, Mr Petioma allegedly entered the vehicle and began to drive away with her child inside.

Police say the mother tried grabbing the passenger door, yelling that her child was inside the car, but was dragged and then fell as the suspect drove away.

On June 30, Mr Petioma was taken into custody. He faces charges that include kidnapping, carjacking, interfering with custody of a minor and illegal use of a credit card. He was also arrested on a Palm Beach County warrant for possession of cocaine and resisting an officer.