The woman who stole the baby boy befriended the boy's mother and then kidnapped the infant when the mother let her hold the boy
Photo: ABCThe woman who stole the baby boy befriended the boy's mother and then kidnapped the infant when the mother let her hold the boy


     Seven-week-old Ahsir Simmons was kidnapped from the King of Prussia mall in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday
    A strange woman befriended the boy's mother in the food hall and then took off with the baby boy when the mother let her hold him
    Police released CCTV footage of the woman leaving the mall, which helped lead them to the kidnapper in nearby Treddyffrin Township
 Continue after the cut ..

The kidnapper's identity has not been released but charges are pending
    The boy and his mother were reunited at the police station Thursday night 

Seven-week-old Ahsir Simmons was kidnapped from the King of Prussia mall on Thursday, but returned to his mother five hours later 
Photo: AP
Seven-week-old Ahsir Simmons was kidnapped from the King of Prussia mall on Thursday, but returned to his mother five hours later 
A seven-week-old baby boy is back in the arms of his mother after being kidnapped from the King of Prussia mall in suburban Philadephia, Pennsylvania on Thursday.
Upper Merion Township police say infant Ahsir Simmons was found safe Thursday night, about five hours after he was abducted by a strange woman.
Police say the woman - who has not been identified - befriended the boy's family, and they sat down together in the food court for about 30 minutes.
When the baby became fussy, police say the woman asked if she could hold him.
The mother allowed her to do so while she took a phone call and dealt with other children in her care.
The woman then walked away with the baby just after 5:30pm.
Police were quick to respond to the kidnapping, releasing CCTV footage of the woman leaving the mall with the baby in her arms and issuing an Amber Alert around 9:30pm.
Tips started flowing in after the surveillance footage was released, and police were able to identify the woman in the video, tracking her down to a barbershop in Treddyffrin Township.


Police confronted the woman who then turned the baby over to authorities. 
The woman had reportedly been showing the baby off to friends and family.
'We were able to go to a number of locations tonight in both Upper Merion Township, Malvern and eventually into Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, where we did locate the woman, who was seen on video leaving with the baby,' said Upper Merion Township Police Chief Tom Nolan. 'The baby is safe and sound, but is getting checked.'

Police tracked down the suspect - who has not been named - to a barbershop on Thursday. The boy was reunited with his mother at the police station Thursday night 
Photo: ABC
Police tracked down the suspect - who has not been named - to a barbershop on Thursday. The boy was reunited with his mother at the police station Thursday night


The child's family was on hand at the police station, and celebrated his return with a prayer 
Photo: ABC
The child's family was on hand at the police station, and celebrated his return with a prayer 
The boy was reunited with his mother at the police station Thursday night, and his whole family gathered nearby to celebrate his return with a prayer.
'I would like to thank God for allowing my baby to come back. And, I want to thank the Upper Merion Police Department, and everybody on social media that helped me get my baby back. I want to thank you so much,' Simmons' mother told the media.
Simmons' grandfather Burdette Lewis also spoke to the press. 
When asked if he had any words for the woman who stole his grandsom, Lewis told 6 ABC: 'You have a problem. Lady may have a mental problem. She might have had a child, and lost her child. It is something wrong.'
Meanwhile, the kidnapper has been arrested and charges are pending.