Alleged car thief in court

A man accused of taking off in a car containing a baby has faced a raft of charges in court, where a magistrate referred him for a mental health assessment.

Canberra man Andrew Ball, 27, appeared briefly in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday charged with 10 offences including theft and abandoning a child.

Police launched a widespread search on Thursday after a mother reported her Mazda sedan, containing her seven-month-old son, stolen from the northern Canberra suburb of Ngunnawal.

Police said the woman stopped to help a man whose car appeared to have broken down.

When he allegedly jumped in her car and drove away, the baby boy was still in the back seat.

The infant was found safe and well almost two hours later, along with the damaged Mazda, at a house in a neighbouring suburb.

Police arrested Ball about 8.30pm (AEDT) Thursday after a short pursuit in another vehicle.

He is also charged with robbing a pharmacy during the period between the two driving matters.

Ball did not apply for bail on Friday and will next face court on a date to be confirmed.