A case of child theft has been registered on the basis of CCTV visuals.

Highlights In CCTV footage, the man, apparently a vendor, is seen lifting the child

The man was caught by locals when he was chased by a family member

It's not yet clear why he was trying to kidnap the child, police said

A man caught on CCTV trying to kidnap a four-year-old child when she was sleeping with her mother outside their home in Punjab's Ludhiana has been arrested.

In dramatic CCTV footage from last night, accessed by news agency ANI, the man, apparently a vendor, can be seen lifting a child sleeping outside on a cot next to her mother and grandmother.

He picks up the child and places her in a cart. When he tries to run away, the two women wake up an the child's mother chases him.

#WATCH Punjab: A man attempts to steal a 4-year-old child while she was sleeping with her family members outside her residence in Ludhiana's Rishi Nagar area. However, the attempt was foiled as family members woke up and rescued the child. The accused has been arrested. (17.09) pic.twitter.com/DB6ZfXnSt7 — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2019

Amid the chaos, locals in the neighbourhood catch hold of the man not too far from the child's home.

He was later handed over to police.

"The accused is nearly 40 years old. He first came near the home to check if the family was fast asleep. He then came back with his cart to kidnap the child. The mother woke up and the man was caught by locals," senior police officer Ramandeep Singh told news agency ANI.

"It's not yet clear why he was trying to kidnap the child," he added.

A case of child theft has been registered on the basis of CCTV visuals, said police.

(With inputs from ANI)