Car Stolen with Sleeping Girl Inside After Mom Leaves Vehicle Running ‘for 1 Minute’ to Go Into Store

Atlanta police are urging parents and caregivers not to leave vehicles running with children inside after a stolen car was recently recovered with a young girl still in it.

Just before 5:45 p.m. local time on Dec. 16, 2025, officers located the child in an abandoned vehicle, according to body-camera footage the Atlanta Police Department (APD) shared on Facebook on Saturday, Jan. 10.

In the video, an officer can be heard describing the situation: “She’s about eight years old. She just woke up. The car’s occupied just with her inside.” The officer also notes that a door handle was partially detached, suggesting someone had attempted to take the vehicle.

A woman who appeared to be the child’s mother arrived shortly afterward. When asked what happened, she told an officer, “I went in the store right there for literally one minute…” She said the store had glass windows and insisted she could see outside.

“I went in for one minute, got what I needed, walked out, and my car was gone,” she continued. “I didn’t know where to look, [so] I just called the police.”

In the clip shared by APD, spokesperson Sergeant Tasheena Brown used the incident to highlight what she called a serious — and preventable — risk.

“I want to talk to you about a serious and preventable issue, leaving young children unattended inside running vehicles,” Brown said. “Even if you’re only stepping away for a moment, a running vehicle can quickly become an easy target for thieves.”

“In just seconds, someone can get inside and drive off, sometimes with the child still inside,” she added.

Brown stressed that the warning comes from both professional experience and personal concern. “I want you to hear this from me clearly,” she said. “Not only am I a police officer, but more importantly, I’m a mother.”

“I understand how busy life gets,” she continued, adding that it can feel “easy” to think, “I’ll only be gone for a minute.”

“But, those moments matter,” Brown said. “If you need to step away from your car, turn it off, take your keys, and take your child with you every time.”

She also urged anyone who sees a child left alone in a running vehicle to “call 911 immediately.”

“Let’s work together, to protect our children, and prevent tragedies before they happen,” Brown said.

The Atlanta Police Department did not immediately provide additional information when contacted for comment.