Police seek man who stole vehicle with 4 kids inside in Lake Worth
LAKE WORTH, Texas - Lake Worth police are hoping the public can help them identify the man who stole a vehicle with four children inside.
This happened Friday afternoon when a mother, who was on the job as a food deliver driver, was picking up the customer’s order at a local business near Rocky Point Trail and Boat Club Road.
Police said the mother went in to grab the food and left her vehicle unlocked and running.
Inside the vehicle were her four children, all under the age of four.
Someone was watching her, and a man stole the vehicle and sped off.
"When she came out of the restaurant, she saw the car hopping a nearby curb, and made a loud noise," said Lake Worth PD Sgt. Sean Ferguson.
The mother spotted her black SUV swerving through the car wash parking lot.
A stranger told the mother to hop in and the two began chasing the thief themselves while on the phone with 911.
"I think he realized, once he saw the kids in the backseat, he realized he was in over his head and it wasn’t a risk he wanted to take," Ferguson said.
The suspect ditched the vehicle about a half a mile away in a Dollar General parking lot.
Video shows the man running away on foot into a neighborhood.
The children were reunited with their mother unharmed.
"As you can imagine, the adrenaline rush with your children being swept away like that," Ferguson said.
Police are now hoping the public recognizes the man, while also offering an important reminder.
"We want to take this time also to remind people that locking your cars and hiding your things, especially with your kids," Ferguson said. "And again, never leave your kids unattended, whether its locked or unlocked."
Witness reports said it didn’t appear the suspect was dropped off by anyone when he first stole the car, and he was on foot, walking around the parking lot, possibly looking for a car to target.
The suspect abandoned the vehicle shortly after stealing it, and police said the children were not harmed.
Anyone with information about this suspect is asked to contact Lake Worth police at LWCID@lakeworthtx.org or 817-237-1224.