A car thief got more than he bargained for Friday night in Covington, when he stole a car with a 2-year-old child sleeping in the back seat from a gas station.

The child and the car were recovered within minutes by the Covington Police Department.

The toddler's 28-year-old father, who didn't want to be identified, said he left the child sleeping in a car seat of his 1989 Honda Civic when he went to fill up at the Deli Direct, a gas station and convenience store at 670 W. Third St., Covington, at 10:08 p.m.

When he realized he was at a pre-pay pump, the father went inside, leaving his sleeping son -- and his keys -- in the car. He said he was inside the store for no more than a minute or two when he walked back outside and saw his car was gone.

"It happened just like that, in the blink of an eye," the father said. "You don't even have time to think. I feel very, very lucky."

Eleven minutes later, Covington police had recovered the car, left abandoned in the 1100 block of Parkway Avenue. The toddler, who wasn't injured, was still asleep inside, said Sgt. Bryan Allen of the Covington Police Department.

The thief's image was caught on a camera installed to catch "pump-and-runners," Allen said. The suspect was wearing a blue and white jacket with a black skullcap and blue jeans, but his race and age couldn't be determined from the video, Allen said.

"This is only speculation, but it sounds like he (the thief) didn't realize he had a child in the car," Allen said. "After stealing it, he realized he had a passenger, and he knew that was escalating the situation so he decided to leave the car and run."

Allen said the suspect likely won't face kidnapping charges, but could be charged with endangerment for leaving the 2-year-old.

Anyone with information can call the Covington Police Department at (859) 292-2222 or Crimestoppers at (513) 352-3040.