Atlanta, USA – Atlanta police are warning parents after a shocking incident in which a car was stolen with a little girl sleeping inside.

On the evening of December 16, 2025, officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle. When they located the car at an apartment complex, an officer found the young girl asleep in the backseat.

“She’s about 8 years old. She just woke up. The car’s occupied just with her inside,” the officer reported to dispatch. Thankfully, the girl was unharmed.

The child’s mother told police she had left the vehicle running while she quickly went into a store to grab a few items. “I went in for one minute, got what I needed, walked out, and my car was gone,” she said. “I didn’t know where to look, so I just called police.”

Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Tasheena Brown urged parents to never leave children alone in running vehicles. “If you need to step away from your car, turn it off, take your keys, and take your child with you every time,” she said.

Police also emphasized that anyone who sees a child alone in a running vehicle should call 911 immediately.

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