Car stolen in Albany with child still inside

Posted at: 12/18/2012 12:06 PM
Updated at: 12/18/2012 12:48 PM
By: WNYT Staff

ALBANY - A car thief in Albany stole a running car with a young child inside.

The child's mother tells police she ran into the store for a moment Monday afternoon and left the car running with her 4-year-old daughter inside near Clinton Avenue and Lark Street.

Police say a 15-year-old stole the car, but must have quickly realized there was a child inside and then ditched the car.

The vehicle was found a short distance away. The little girl was not hurt.

Police say the suspect fled on foot and is still on the loose.

The mother, 28-year-old Koryse Sealey, was ticketed for leaving her vehicle unattended.

Police offer the following tips in regards to stolen vehicles:

• Never leave your vehicle running unattended, even if it’s only for a few minutes.  This includes warming it up due to inclement weather.
• Always lock your vehicle. Almost half of vehicles stolen in the City of Albany were left unlocked.
• Don’t hide a second set of keys in your vehicle.
• Park in attended lots or well lit areas.
• Invest in Anti-Theft devices such as a remote car starters, alarm systems, or ignition kill switches.

Police say leaving your vehicle running while unattended does not only put you at risk of having your vehicle stolen, it is also against the law.