Boy, 4, abducted inside stolen vehicle found safe thanks to trackable toy in North Philly
PHILADELPHIA - A mother's worst nightmare had a happy ending now that her 4-year-old son is back in her arms Wednesday morning.
What we know:
Philadelphia police say the boy was abducted during a carjacking while he was fast asleep in the back of a vehicle.
The boy's mother told police she left her car running outside as she went to grab something from a family member's home on the 3000 block of West Susquehanna Avenue.
When she returned a minute later, the vehicle and her 4-year-old son were gone.
Timeline:
After the mother called 911, police notified officers throughout the city and deployed their aviation unit.
Police say they were able to track the stolen vehicle using a tracking device inside the boy's toy.
The stolen vehicle was spotted by the aviation unit just a mile away, and was found on the ground within seconds.
Police say the boy was found still sleeping in the backseat with the engine running and no one else in the abandoned vehicle.
"Whoever took the car, we don't have at this time," Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
The boy was missing for about 40 minutes, and was found without any injuries. He was reunited with his mother at the scene.
What's next:
Police are still looking for the car thief, and are hoping cameras in the area will help identify them.
The stolen vehicle is also being held to hopefully acquire fingerprints or DNA.
The incident is being investigated as a stolen vehicle and abduction, but police believe the kidnapping was not intentional.
"We believe what happened was someone took the opportunity and once they realized there was a child inside, they pulled over and got out," Small said.
The Source: Information from the article was provided by the Philadelphia Police Department.