A recent incident in Atlanta has prompted the police to issue a strong warning to parents about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles that are running.
The cautionary tale involves a vehicle stolen on December 16, 2025, just before 5:45 p.m. local time, which was later found abandoned with a young child inside. The Atlanta Police Department (APD) shared body cam footage of the discovery on Facebook on January 10.
The video captures an officer stating, “She’s about eight years old. She just woke up. The car’s occupied just with her inside.” The officer also noted that a partially detached door handle indicated an attempt had been made to steal the vehicle, according to video obtained by People.
The child’s mother arrived at the scene and, when questioned by an officer about the incident, explained, “I went in the store right there for literally one minute…”
The mother added that that the store’s glass windows allowed her to keep an eye on the vehicle.
The mom continued, “I went in for one minute, got what I needed, walked out, and my car was gone. I didn’t know where to look, [so] I just called the police.”
APD spokesperson Sergeant Tasheena Brown addressed the hazards of leaving a child in a running vehicle in the footage released by the police.
She stated, “I wanna talk to you about a serious and preventable issue, leaving children unattended inside running vehicles,” Sgt. Tasheena Brown says in the video message accompanying the bodycam posted to Facebook. “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 a child still inside. I want you to hear this from me clearly: Not only am I a police officer, but more importantly, I am a mother.”
The officer continued, “I understand how busy life gets, how quick errands can feel, and how easy it is to think, ‘I’ll only be gone for a minute.’ But those moments matter. If you need to step away from your car, turn it off, take your keys, and take your child with you every time.”
She advised anyone who sees a child left alone inside 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 doubled down on their caution in their caption on Facebook, writing, “One minute” can change everything. Even if you’re stepping away briefly, turn the car off, take your keys, and take your child with you every time. If you see a child alone in a running vehicle, call 911 immediately. Let’s protect our children and prevent tragedies before they happen.”
