“I came back outside and my car is gone,” the mother told the 911 operator

NEED TO KNOW

• A Georgia mom’s car was stolen — with her toddler still inside — as she was delivering an Instacart order in Atlanta
• “My 2-year-old daughter was in the backseat,” she told the 911 operator through tears
• Saleem Martin was arrested and charged with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony

A Georgia mom’s vehicle was stolen with her toddler still inside. 

On Thursday, July 30, the City of Atlanta Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle theft and kidnapping at 930 Spring St. in Atlanta around 4:36 p.m., authorities shared on social media. 

“Someone just stole my car and it has my 2-year-old daughter in it,” the mom told the 911 operator through tears, per a recording shared by the police. “My 2-year-old daughter was in the backseat.”

“I was dropping off an Instacart order and I came back outside and my car is gone,” she continued. “My daughter was inside.”

Upon arriving at the scene, the Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit began searching for the vehicle, which investigators determined had been left running with the little girl sitting inside. 

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Within 15 minutes, the city’s license plate readers led officers to the vehicle and the suspect, who has since been revealed to be Saleem Martin. 

As seen in bodycam footage shared by the Atlanta Police Department, Martin, 21, was instructed to raise his hands and exit the vehicle. 

Martin was then immediately handcuffed and arrested as the little girl’s cries were heard from inside the car.

He has since been charged with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony. 

The child remained unharmed and was reunited with her parents after Martin’s arrest. 

According to an arrest warrant obtained by 11 Alive, the toddler’s mother allegedly “asked her daughter why the bottom of her dress was unbuttoned” when they were reunited. 

The little girl then “stated that the man did it,” after which the mom confirmed she was referring to “the male that was driving the car,” per the outlet.

The warrant also noted that Martin allegedly “had both his hands on” the child’s torso when they found him in a Publix parking lot and that he was “trying to duck down and hide in between the seat.”

While the Special Victims Unit was brought into the investigation, the warrant stated that Martin allegedly claimed to be “touching her because he wanted to calm her down,” per 11 Alive. He also allegedly claimed that he jumped into the vehicle in an effort to “get back to New Jersey” before noticing the young child in the backseat.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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