In a troubling incident on Friday night, a carjacking took place in Queens that involved a 4-year-old girl left alone in the backseat. According to law enforcement, the child’s mother, 31, stopped at a laundromat on 101st Avenue and 113th Street around 4:30 p.m. and made the risky decision to leave her vehicle running with her daughter inside.
While the mother was occupied, two men seized the opportunity, jumped into the red 2023 Acura Integra, and drove off with the young girl still strapped in her seat. Fortunately, police were able to locate both the car and the girl a couple of hours later on 101st Avenue and Sanders Place.
Luckily, the child was unharmed and declined any medical attention after being evaluated by emergency medical technicians on scene. Photographers captured moments of relief, as the little girl smiled and playfully held a green rubber glove. In a heartwarming display, she even hugged a police officer as he comforted her.
Meanwhile, her mother showed signs of both relief and stress as she awaited news. The emotional toll of the situation was evident as she sat with emergency services after being reunited with her daughter.
As for the carjackers, they remain at large and face serious charges, including grand larceny, with potential kidnapping charges looming. Law enforcement continues to investigate this frightening incident.
This was not the first case of its kind in New York City this week; just a day prior, a father was also the victim of a carjacking while he was putting his 7-year-old son into their running vehicle in the Bronx. That carjacker is still on the loose, highlighting a growing concern about the safety of children amid rising crime rates in urban areas.
The community is understandably shaken, and many are calling for increased vigilance and safety measures to prevent such events from occurring in the future. The need for a safe environment for our children must be a priority.
