A man has been charged with child stealing and other crimes after allegedly taking a car with a baby inside in Melbourne's north.
Gurkan Yildirim, 24, of Coburg, is alleged to have stolen a silver 2014 Mercedes from outside the Australian International Academy in Ross Street, Coburg North, on Tuesday.
Police prosecutor Detective Senior Constable Virginia Creece told the court the mother of the baby had parked outside the school to pick up her young children when the theft occurred.
The mother left the car's motor running and the windows down, and had been talking to a friend next to the car when Mr Yildirim allegedly crawled in through a window and drove off, the court heard.
Detective Senior Constable Creece said the mother and her friend banged on the windows, shouting "There's a baby inside".
The friend jumped onto the bonnet of the car but was flung off when it hit another vehicle at a nearby intersection, the court was told.
The car was located a short time later with the baby still inside in an alleyway in Coburg.
The incident was captured on CCTV, which is how Mr Yildirim was identified, Detective Senior Constable Creece said.
The mother's friend was treated in hospital for a suspected broken foot. The mother had minor cuts and bruises from the incident.
Mr Yildirim, who was on bail when the alleged crime occurred, told the court he was on medication for severe anxiety and depression.
Detective Senior Constable Creece said he had been drug-affected when he was arrested.
Mr Yildirim's application for bail was denied.
He was remanded at the Fawkner Police Station to face five charges at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.
A 44-year-old Hadfield man has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle and has been bailed to appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court in February.