Dad locks baby in car to go shoplifting

A 13-MONTH-OLD boy was left in a locked car while police allege his father went on a shoplifting spree in Sydney's south.

Police say the boy was found uninjured in the car at a shopping centre in Pagewood after his father was arrested for stealing car accessories from a store.

He eventually told them about his son, who was found locked in the car in a distressed state, police said.

The pair were taken to a police station where the man was charged with neglect child or young person in his care and larceny.

The man is also accused of resisting arrest when plain-clothed police arrived on the scene.

He was bailed to appear at Waverley Local Court on April 7.

The child was returned to his mother.