Atlanta police are warning parents and caregivers about the dangers of leaving children unattended in running vehicles after a recent car theft left a young child alone inside a stolen vehicle.
A Child Left Sleeping in a Running Car
The incident happened just before 5:45 p.m. local time on Dec. 16 in Atlanta. According to police, a vehicle was taken while a young girl was asleep inside. The car was later found abandoned with the child still inside — unharmed. Body camera footage released by the Atlanta Police Department shows officers arriving at the vehicle and discovering the child alone inside.
Police say the girl appeared to be about eight years old and had just woken up by the time officers located the vehicle. Officers also noticed damage to the car, including a partially detached door handle, suggesting an attempted theft. The child was safely recovered at the scene and was heard reassuring officers that she was okay.
A Quick Errand That Went Wrong
A woman believed to be the child’s mother arrived shortly after police located the vehicle. In the footage, she explained that she’d left the car running while she briefly went into a nearby store, believing she’d only be gone a short time and noting the store had windows that let her see outside. When she came back out and found the vehicle missing, she called police immediately.
A Warning From APD
The Atlanta Police Department shared the footage publicly as part of a broader safety message. An APD spokesperson used the incident to highlight the risks of leaving children in unattended vehicles, even for a few minutes, emphasizing that running vehicles can quickly become targets for theft — sometimes within seconds — and that children may still be inside when it happens.
Officers acknowledged that busy schedules and everyday errands can lead to lapses in judgment, but stressed that even brief moments can carry serious consequences. Police are encouraging caregivers to turn off their vehicles, take their keys, and bring children with them any time they step away from a car.
The department also urged anyone who sees a child left alone inside a running vehicle to contact emergency services immediately, framing the message as a preventative effort aimed at avoiding potential tragedies. APD has not released additional details about potential charges or suspects connected to the theft.