//It was then found abandoned nearby, in Hatherway Crescent E12, but the girl was not inside.//
That is worrying. The initial thought was that he was stealing the car to replate/spray/cut and shut but having abandoned the car the scumbags motives may have been something more sinister.
Some of the comments on the Met's FB post are pretty nasty.
I am glad that she has been found, but would have thought the car thief would have ensured that such a young child was left in a place that was safe. People who steal cars aren't necessarily evil.