In a bizarre incident that sounds like it belongs in a movie, a woman’s car was stolen with her young son still inside. The unexpected twist? The thief returned the child before taking off with the vehicle once again.
In Beaverton, Oregon, a mother named Sarah Thompson was running errands with her four-year-old when she made the questionable choice to leave him in the running, unlocked car while she dashed into a butcher shop just a few feet away. Moments later, she witnessed someone driving away with her vehicle—and her son still inside.
According to Sarah’s account to the police, the car thief quickly realized that the child was in the backseat. In a shocking turn of events, he executed a U-turn in the shopping center, brought the car back, and scolded Sarah for her lapse in judgment. He even went so far as to threaten to call the police on her before making her take her son out of the car and driving off once more.
Officer Jake Anderson from the Beaverton police expressed disbelief at the thief’s behavior. “It’s not every day you see a carjacker threatening to report the victim,” he remarked. He noted that while Sarah’s decision wasn’t a crime—she was within sight and sound of her child—leaving the car running was a risky move. “It’s a good reminder to take extra precautions when we have our little ones with us,” he advised.
Sarah reflected on the incident, saying, “As moms, we get busy and think we’re just running in for a second. This serves as a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong.” Overcome with emotion, she added, “I’m just grateful he’s okay. It was a foolish mistake, and I will never do it again.”
Fortunately, the vehicle was located a few hours later in Portland, and authorities expressed relief that the child was returned safely. “We’re thankful he brought the little one back,” Officer Anderson stated.
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Summary:
A mother in Oregon left her son in a running car while she ran a quick errand, only to have the vehicle stolen. The thief returned the child after realizing he was inside, scolded the mother, and then drove off again with the car. Authorities commented on the unusual behavior of the thief and emphasized the importance of child safety.