Teen Thief Steals Car With Baby Inside
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Miami mom is relieved and happy to have her baby back after a stranger jumps in her car and drives off with the infant inside.
The 28-year old mother preferred to remain anonymous while describing what happened to her Friday afternoon while at outside an apartment complex on 84th Street and North Miami Court.
She told CBS4 her heart sank when she saw someone jump in her black Jeep Cherokee as she stood feet away speaking to her own mother.
She had left the SUV running with the air conditioner on so her baby boy stayed cool while sleeping in the back seat.
That's when survival mode and quick thinking kicked in.
"I chased the car as far as I could to know which direction it was heading," she said. "I stopped the first car that I seen and explained to them what was going on and thank God the guy called 911 for me."
"She was able to give us enough information where one of our sergeants in the area picked up the car that fit the description," explained Miami Police Officer Kenia Fallat.
Minutes later, about a mile away – near busy Biscayne Boulevard and NW 79 St. – the stolen Cherokee stopped with the 6-month old baby safe inside.
"I was just so happy," the mother told reporter Donna Rapado. "He had tears on his face. But he was just so happy to see me. He lunged at me and jumped into my arms. "
Police arrested the suspected car thief, a 13-year-old boy.
They charged the teen with grand theft auto and transferred him to Miami's Juvenile Detention Center.
"I'm angry at him," the baby's mother said about the teen suspected of taking her car. "I'm really pissed off because at his age that's not really what he should be thinking about. He should be worrying about school, an education. Not stealing cars cause there's no future in that."
