Both animals and children can die in a short period of time if left alone in a vehicle, especially in the Texas heat. But this police report details an additional danger, and I did not realize that it is not as rare as I would have thought:

September 22, 2023 - A vehicle was stolen in San Antonio, TX with a 10-year-0ld child alone inside on Thursday (9/21). According to news reports, the car was stolen from the parking lot of a 7-11 store near a highway. Luckily, the boy was found. However, the car and suspect are still on the loose.

Contrary to what many believe, this is not a rare occurrence. Already this year, Kids and Car Safety has documented 128 children who were left alone in a vehicle that was then stolen. Every year we see an increase in these cases as the temperatures get cooler.

Although the victims of these types of incidents typically survive, it is incredibly traumatizing for everyone involved. Incidents like this are very easily avoidable by never leaving a child alone in a vehicle.