Mother and father allegedly leave baby behind after alleged criminal behavior in Upper Chichester, Pa.

UPPER CHICHESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPVI) — Upper Chichester police responded early Monday morning to reports of three people cutting an inactive Verizon cable on the 3100 block of Meetinghouse Road, an incident that quickly escalated into a crime involving an abandoned infant.

Police said the call regarding three people using a saw to cut the cable.

Lt. Christopher Jones of the Upper Chichester Police Department said the motivation was tied to the value of the materials inside.

“The copper inside the cables is a hot item for the precious metals to be melted down and taken to wherever they can to get pawned,” Jones said.

As officers arrived at the scene, police said the three suspects fled in a Jeep, leaving behind a sedan.

Investigators found cut cables in the trunk of the abandoned vehicle and hand saws on the passenger seat.

The car was impounded and taken to Upper Chichester police headquarters as officers waited for a search warrant.

While examining the exterior of the vehicle, officers noticed something unusual in the back seat, Jones said.

“Once it was back here, our officers were checking the exterior of the car and noticed that a blanket in the backseat moved slightly,” Jones said.

Police removed the blanket and discovered a sleeping 4-month-old baby boy inside the car. A short time later, the child’s mother, 32-year-old Angelina Williams, was arrested in connection with the cable theft. Police say she never mentioned that the baby was inside the vehicle.

“Thank goodness that officer looked in there and saw something moving. It would’ve been a few hours before we executed a search warrant on it once the judge signed the paperwork,” Jones said.

Authorities said two other suspects remain at large: 49-year-old Joseph Daniels, whom police identified as the baby’s father, and 47-year-old Ray Gibase.

Residents and workers in the area told Action News that while the situation was deeply troubling, such incidents have become less surprising.

“It’s just outrageous, and I hope the child’s all right,” said Tom Perri of Chadds Ford.

“It’s a shame. I mean, this is not what I thought I grew up in, this is what this country would be. But it is what it is,” said Sherman Robinson of Lindenwold, New Jersey.

Police say the baby was not injured and is now in the care of his grandmother.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the two suspects still on the loose to contact Upper Chichester police.