TRI-CITIES, Wash. – According to Benton County Sheriffs Office, A car was stolen in Pasco with a 4-year-old in the backseat on Dec.4th. BCSO says a mother left her son inside of a running car in the driveway of her house.
The car was then stolen.
BCSO says the suspect had outstanding warrants and shortly after the call came in about the incident they were arrested. The child was returned safe and uninjured to his family.
According to Kids and Car Safety, this is the 8th car stolen with a child inside of it in Washington this year. KCS data shows situations like this happening across the country over 155 times. KCS says every year that these stats continue to rise especially when the weather gets colder.
“This isn’t something that’s happening to bad parents, parents just don’t understand the risks,” said KCS Director Amber Rollins. “So, we need people to understand that these aren’t freak accidents. Cars are being stolen every week with children alone in the backseat. It’s happening in even safe neighborhoods, peoples’ driveways, convenience stores and places where people know that we feel safe stepping away from our vehicle with the keys inside of it for just a minute.”
Rollins shared a list of things that parents should keep in mind when it comes to kids and car safety:
Never leave a child of any age alone in a carUse the drive-thru, curbside pickups and delivery options when availableDon’t be afraid to ask for help usually if it involves kids people will be more than happy to helpKeep car doors locked and keys on your person at all times even when pumping gas
Rollins says there are many other things that parents should watch out for if a child is left alone in a car like: strangulation by a car power window or seatbelt, accidentally shifting the car out of park or even the child getting out of the car entirely and getting hurt.
