Police have staged a massive manhunt over a five-month-old twin who went missing when his mum’s car was stolen from outside a pizza shop.

Little Kasson Thomas and his twin brother Kyair had been left in the vehicle while their mother dashed into the restaurant for a takeaway on 19th December.

But when she emerged from the shop, she discovered the car had been stolen with the babies still strapped inside, report local media in Columbus, Ohio state, USA.

Columbus Division of Police said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 20th December: “Shortly after 5 a.m. this morning one of the children was found at the Dayton airport. Circumstances surrounding this recovery are still being investigated. Authorities around Dayton are currently canvassing the area for the vehicle and other child.”

But to their mother’s horror, Kasson and the woman who is believed to have snatched the brothers are still missing.

Police have named the prime suspect as Nalah Tamiko Jackson, 24, who is understood to have left the branch of Donatos pizza while the twins’ mum was going in.

The kidnapping apparently happened at 9:45 PM on 19th December but, admit police, the alarm was not raised until the next day.

Columbus Chief of Police Elaine Bryant, whose department is leading the investigation, said: “Right now, our concern is to get the baby.

“We want to make sure that Kasson is safe. That is our number one priority.

“Clearly, we are concerned about everything, but we want to make sure that we bring that baby home to their family.”

Police have searched homeless shelters and previous addresses of the missing woman but so far without luck.

Chief Bryan later said: “There was a lapse of communication from the executive level.”