An Oregon car thief got more than he bargained for when he realized there was a 4-year-old boy in the back of the vehicle. What happened next is what truly beggars belief: he drove the child back to his mother and threatened to call the police on her while lecturing her on the dangers of leaving him alone. Then, he drove off in the car again, KPTV reports.
- Police are on the hunt for the man. The unnamed man has yet to be caught, but Beaverton Police Spokesman Officer Matt Henderson says the department is on the lookout. “He hopped in the car, drove it, realized there was a 4-year-old inside, and drove back and ordered her to take the child out of the car and then drove away again,” Henderson said of the incident, which took place at a meat market in Beaverton. “We’re thankful he had the decency to bring the little one back.”
- The boy’s mother had only run in for a second. Crystal Leary left the car’s engine running when she ran in quickly to grab some milk and some meat, only planning to be a second. She could see the vehicle the entire time behind the glass windows of the store, but it was still stolen with her son inside.
- Leary will never leave her son again. “As moms, we get really busy and we think we’re just running in for a second and this is just a perfect example of just letting our guards down and how terrible it could have ended,” Leary said. “I am thankful that he is okay. It was so stupid and I’ll never do that again, but it’s that split-second decision that can just change everything.”
- The car was eventually recovered, though still no sign of the thief. The 2013 silver Honda Pilot was found later the same day in Portland, but the suspect, described as a white male with long, dark braided hair and wearing a multicolor mask, is still on the run. Beaverton Police urge any witnesses to call 503-629-0111.
