Officers were called to Jamison shops after a man allegedly entered a pharmacy, threatening staff with a knife before making off with cash and drugs.

Later that night at 8.25pm police were notified of a suspicious white coloured Mazda in the Weetangera area.

After a brief pursuit police stopped the vehicle in Mayo Street, Weetangera where they arrested a 27-year-old man, later identified as the same person that had stolen the silver 1999 Mazda 323 Protégé earlier in the day.

For about 100 desperate minutes, police searched Canberra for the stolen silver 1999 Mazda 323 Protégé, which was taken when the good Samaritan mother was helping a man whose car had broken down.

The child and car were found at a home in Palmerston, about 400metres away from where they were taken in Ngunnawal.

Police said he was in good condition when found about 3.45pm.

‘‘The baby was located safe and well on the porch of the residence and reunited with his parents a short time later,’’ police said in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon.

Greg Kimball called the police at 3.41pm after recognising the Mazda and number plate, having gone to the street in Palmerston to pick up his own six-month-old son.

There was no one at home when his acquaintance knocked.

‘‘[The car] was backed into a drive[way] and the bonnet was missing and it was all banged up,’’ Mr Kimball said.

‘‘The family [who lived there] arrived, and then literally not even a minute later, the police arrived. I was [still] on the phone. ‘‘They [police] went inside and went straight in and about a minute later came out [with the baby].’’

Police took the baby back to his mother and reunited the family.

The family has asked for privacy at this point, but thanked the community for their support.

Detective Superintendent Kenton Turner said the car had been taken from Yarrawonga Street in Ngunnawal about 2pm.

A police spokesman said the car was not damaged when stolen.

Police said the mother had gone to the assistance of a man whose car had broken down when he jumped into her car and drove off with her son inside. It is understood the car’s bonnet was up at the time, and broke off while he was driving it.

The bonnet was located no more than 10metres away from the car.

The baby was found on a side porch, and it is understood the man broke through a gate to get there, and later broke through a wooden back fence to escape.

Ali Bulbul lives about 20metres from where the car was found, and said one of his family members had left their home at 3.20pm and not seen any damaged car.

‘‘It’s just amazing that everything’s alright,’’ Mr Bulbul said.

‘‘Obviously our hearts go out to the baby and the parents of the baby.’’ Sandra Power lives two doors down from where the car was found, and said she was told by the homeowners about 4.30pm that the baby had been left with some infant gear.

‘‘He has put bubby around the back on the patio with a bottle of milk and a toy – I’ve spoken to the owners,’’ Ms Power said.

She said that the owners of the Arid Place house told her the home had been broken into.

The grandmother of five said the incident was out of place in the peaceful neighbourhood – with many other nearby residents expressing shock at the news – but was glad the baby had been found safe and returned to his parents.

‘‘It must have been so terrible for them,’’ Ms Power said.

Detective Superintendent Turner thanked the Canberra community for their help in tracking down the boy.