MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police say a 1-year-old boy is safe after he was in the backseat of a stolen vehicle Saturday.
In a press release, MPD said a white 2005 Grand Cherokee with Minnesota license plate "CRY 661" was stolen from the 4200 block of Humboldt Avenue North. It happened at 12:17 p.m.
Just before 3 p.m., investigators said the boy was located safe in the stolen car, which was found on Brooklyn Boulevard.
In an afternoon press conference, MPD spokesperson John Elder said the suspect left the car and ran away. Investigators said the car will be processed for evidence, and that officers are still looking for the suspect.
Elder said a caller spotted the car, recognized it from media reports, and called law enforcement.
He added that the boy seemed to be in good health and was "all smiles" when the officers picked him up.
Asked how the car had been stolen, Elder said the boy's mother had left the boy in the running car briefly while she went back inside to get something. When she came out, she told investigators the car had been taken.
Elder said MPD has seen 401 auto thefts so far this year. He asked people to stop leaving their cars running and unattended, adding that car thefts are often "crimes of opportunity."
