As a kid, my parents left me in the car all of the time to make quick runs into the store. In summer they left the car running with the AC on, and I was all too happy to be able to sit and color or listen to my Walkman and skip out on the “boring” shopping experience. They were always quick trips and I truly never felt any negative way about it. But the truth is, a lot could have happened and it was pure dumb luck that nothing did. An Atlanta mom learned this lesson the hardest way possible.
People reported that the Atlanta Police Department released bodycam footage on January 10, 2026, that showed an officer discovering an 8-year-old girl in the back seat of an abandoned car. Upon reaching the scene at 5:45 p.m. December 16, 2025, the officer can be heard saying in the video, “She’s about eight years old. She just woke up. The car’s occupied just with her inside.” He noted that the handle was partially off and suggested someone tried to take the vehicle.
Moments later, a tearful and frantic mom was seen running toward the car. She explained to the officers that she “went in the store right there for literally one minute …” and could see her car from the open glass windows.
“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,” she said, per People.
Luckily, the girl was found unharmed, but it is a stark lesson the police department wants all community members and beyond to really learn.
Department spokesperson Sgt. Tasheena Brown took the incident as an opportunity to highlight the dangers of leaving a child inside a running car.
“I want to talk to you about a serious and preventable issue, leaving young children unattended inside running vehicles,” she began. “Even if you’re only stepping away for a moment, a running vehicle can quickly become an easy target for thieves.”
Brown told community members that if they ever saw a car running with an unattended child inside to call 911 immediately to circumvent a potential tragedy.
“I understand how busy life gets … but, those moments matter,” she emphasized. “If you need to step away from your car, turn it off, take your keys, and take your child with you every time.”
This is hardly the first time this has happened. In July 2025, a high-speed chase ensued after a teen stole a car with a toddler asleep in the back seat after a mom went to quickly pop into a gas station. In May 2025, a 6-year-old boy was snatched after a mom left him sleeping in the back seat to make a “fast” grocery store run.
“Let’s work together, to protect our children, and prevent tragedies before they happen,” Brown added, noting even if it is a fast run, a “minute” is all it takes for the unthinkable to happen.
