PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — A one-year-old baby was found safe on a Philadelphia sidewalk late Monday night after a car thief stole a vehicle with the child still inside.
The incident unfolded just after 11 p.m. in the East Falls neighborhood, on the 3400 block of Henry Avenue.
How it happened
A woman had parked her car in front of her family’s home when an unknown individual stole the vehicle.
What the thief did not know — or did not check — was that a one-year-old baby was inside the car.
The mother had a GPS tracking device on the vehicle, which allowed her to quickly alert police and help them locate it.
Baby found abandoned on a street corner
Officers tracked the stolen car to the 4000 block of Parkside Avenue in West Philadelphia, where it had been abandoned.
When they arrived, they found the baby seat — but the child was gone.
Police returned to Henry Avenue, where a family member had already found the baby. The one-year-old had been left alone on a street corner, roughly a block from where the car was first taken.
The child was unharmed and was reunited with the mother and grandmother on the scene.
What investigators believe happened
According to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, investigators believe the thief discovered the baby inside the car after driving off and made the decision to leave the child on the sidewalk before abandoning the vehicle.
As of early Tuesday, police were still going through surveillance footage from the area. No description of the suspect has been released yet.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
A frightening night with a fortunate outcome
For this family, a tracking device on the car likely made all the difference in finding the child quickly.
The baby is safe — but the person responsible is still out there.
If you have any information about this incident, Philadelphia police are asking the public to come forward.
What do you think can be done to keep children safer in situations like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.