As driver shopped, carjacker jumped into vehicle and drove off with sleeping teen

The driver’s 14-year-old sister was inside the SUV when it was stolen.

The man who stole the car let her out about a mile down the road, physically unharmed but very shaken.

20-year-old Morteza Zakeri is charged with stealing a car, kidnapping, and fleeing police. Investigators say he took the SUV from a gas station on Tryon Road in Raleigh.

The car's owner, Amber Pummill, went into the store with her 2 children and sister.

One sister stayed behind.

"My my sister that was left in the car. She said she didn't want anything and she was a little bit sleepy. So I left her in the car and I left the car running,” said Pummill.

When Pummill came out, the car was gone and so was her sister.

"I thought maybe she took my car, but she didn't have a phone. She didn't know where she was at. So, I've done circles around the store. Maybe she just took it for a joyride, to the other side of the store, but it was gone," said Pummill

The 14-year-old was dropped off a mile away unharmed and then reunited with her family.

"That car was my prized possession and it hurt my feelings so bad. Once I got my sister back that was one thing, she was fine and well, but then my prized possession was still gone," said Pummill

Police chased the suspect all over the county before finally stopping him on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary.

Zakeri's brother told WRAL News that the family moved here from Chicago about a month ago because his parents wanted to give their children a more stable life.

He was unaware of the incident.

Pummill tells us it's a night her sister will never forget.

"She's she's doing well. She's still a little shooken up about it," said Pummill.