Car Stolen with Sleeping Girl Inside After Mom Leaves Vehicle Running ‘for 1 Minute’ to Go Into Store By Becca Longmire 10

Police in Atlanta have urged parents not to leave their car running with their children inside after a stolen vehicle was recently found with a young girl inside it.

Just before 5:45 p.m. local time on Dec. 16, 2025, the child was found in a vehicle that had been abandoned, per body cam footage shared by the Atlanta Police Department (APD) on Facebook on Saturday, Jan. 10.

An officer is heard saying in the video, “She’s about eight years old. She just woke up. The car’s occupied just with her inside,” adding that the door handle was partially off, suggesting somebody had tried to take the vehicle.

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A woman who appeared to be the child’s mother then arrived at the scene, telling an officer, when questioned about what had happened, “I went in the store right there for literally one minute…”

She insisted there were glass windows in the store allowing her to see outside.

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.”

In the clip shared by police, APD spokesperson Sergeant Tasheena Brown discussed the dangers of leaving a child inside a running vehicle.

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

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

She emphasized, “I want you to hear this from me clearly. Not only am I a police officer, but more importantly, I’m a mother.”

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

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

She urged 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 didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.