Amarillo Man Steals Car With Child Asleep In Backseat!

OMG this one made me freak out!  An Amarillo man stole a vehicle, that had a 6 year old child sound asleep in the backseat!  Can you imagine what went through the kid's head after waking up to that?  An Amarillo mother left her child in the car while she ran in a store to make a quick purchase.  When she walked out of the store, she saw her car driving away, and immediately called 911.  That's a nightmare come true!  Her heart sank as she watched the car drive off with her baby in the backseat.

Amarillo Police:

"On Friday, November 29th at approximately 5:30pm, APD officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of S Bell on a stolen auto report. While en route officers were advised the stolen vehicle was a 2006 turquoise Pontiac Grand Prix and that there was a 6 year old child sleeping in the back seat when it was stolen. As officers were arriving to the scene, they were advised the vehicle had been located in the 1500 block of S Bell and the child was still in the back seat and the vehicle was now abandoned. Officers went to this location where they found the owner of the vehicle a W/F 32 sitting in the driver’s seat and a B/M sitting in the front passenger seat. The passenger was identified as Joshua Anthony Polley B/M 24. The female was extremely hysterical stating that she found her baby, referring to her 6 year old child. She advised that she had just pulled into the strip mall located in the 1800 block of S Bell, leaving her vehicle running with her 6 year old in the back seat while she ran inside to make a quick purchase. After being inside for only a few minutes she returned to observe her vehicle backing away and leaving the parking lot. She immediately called 911 and reported the incident. While waiting for officer’s arrival, she was approached by Polley who stated he had found her car and directed her to the location of the stolen car. Officers began obtaining statements from both parties and checking on the possibility of surveillance video from any nearby store. Officers located video surveillance indicating a B/M opened the front driver’s side door of the Grand Prix, got inside and back away from the store and left the parking lot. The suspect was dressed identical to that of Polley. As officers talked to the Polley he was very nervous and was could not provide officers with any details as to how “found” the stolen vehicle or even how he knew it was stolen or where the owner was located. Polley was later transported and booked into the Potter County Correction Center on a charge of UUMV (Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle). "

Over half of the stolen vehicles in Amarillo this year had the keys left in them.   This is a harsh reminder that you can not leave your vehicle unattended with the keys inside, especially if there is a child in the car.  I'm pretty sure it's illegal to leave your child in your vehicle with it running...