This is the terrifying moment a woman kidnaps a newborn baby after duping her mother and grandparents into thinking she was a nurse.
Sofia – just 24 hours old – was snatched from a maternity ward by the woman, who was wearing a full uniform and face mask, and helped by a male accomplice.
Dramatic CCTV footage from a corridor at the hospital shows the woman – who police say had simulated she was a pregnant – take the infant to a pram before escaping.
The drama happened late on Tuesday night at the Sacro Cuore hospital in the southern Italian city of Cosenza and sparked a major police operation.
Dozens of officers flooded the building and fanned out into nearby streets, and an urgent appeal was launched for help via Tv and social media.
Within three hours the kidnapper, identified as local woman Rosa Vespa, 53 and her accomplice Senegalese national Aqua Moses, 53, were caught and the baby safely recovered.
Sofia’s mother, Valeria Chiappetta, broke down in tears as she thanked officers and said: ’We had died but now we are reborn, we had lost all hope.
‘I want to thank everyone involved for bringing little Sofia back to us, people have been messaging from all over and I wish I could thank everyone personally but there are thousands.
‘It’s thanks to the police and the entire city who helped us find little Sofia, we can’t thank everyone enough.’
Police said Vespa had told friends and neighbours for the last nine months she was pregnant and hatched a plan to snatch a baby with Moses.
Dressed in a nurse uniform and wearing a mask she entered the maternity unit at the hospital, and told the mother and grandmother the baby had to ‘be seen by a paediatrician’.
But after she failed to return, they raised the alarm, and police were called, and the couple and baby were found in a car.
A police spokesperson told MailOnline: ’The baby was recovered safely and the two suspects arrested after a major operation by the forces of law and order.
‘For several months the woman had told friends and neighbours she was pregnant and a few days ago posted on social media that she had given birth to a boy.
‘She told people the baby was being kept in hospital for checks and so she devised a plan to kidnap a newborn infant.
‘When the baby girl was recovered, she had in fact been changed from her Minnie Mouse baby grow into a baby boy outfit.’
Officers later searched the woman’s house and said it had been ‘decorated’ for a welcome home baby party with balloons, bunting and catering.
Local prosecutor Bruno Tridico, who is now investigating the incident said:’The case has been resolved, and everyone is happy.’
Large crowds had gathered outside the hospital after news of the snatch spread and when an ambulance carrying the bay arrived it was cheered and applauded.
However, there was incredulity from some with one local calling into a new show and asking: ’How on earth in this day and age is it possible for something like this to happen.’
Officials at the hospital said an investigation would be launched but added:’ The CCTV worked perfectly and helped us locate those responsible quickly and reunite the child with her family.’
