Car (illustrative)
Car (illustrative)Israel news photo: file

A 14-year-old boy was found alive and well Sunday evening after he was kidnapped in a carjacking that sparked a massive police search in the area of Petach Tikva, immediately north of Tel Aviv.

The 14-year-old had been riding in his father's car. At approximately 9 p.m., as the two waited at a red light, a thief opened the door to the car, removed the father by force, jumped in the driver's seat and sped away.

The vehicle took off to the east, creating concern that it may be heading for a Palestinian Authority-controlled city in Samaria.

Police began the standard procedure in case of kidnapping and put up checkpoints along highways and other locations in Central Israel. A helicopter searched from the skies.

The boy was found at Ra'anana Junction to the north, where he had apparently been let out. Upon his release, the boy used a passerby's phone to call the police, who quickly came to meet him.

The car, and thief, have yet to be found.