A 2-year-old girl is safe after being rescued from an alleged kidnapper in Atlanta, according to a report by Eyewitness News. The rescue followed a car theft that quickly turned into a frantic search for the child.
The child's mother called 911 to report that her car had been stolen with her daughter inside. The incident happened on Thursday afternoon.
The mother told the 911 operator that she was dropping off an Instacart order when the theft occurred. When she came back outside, her vehicle was gone, with her 2-year-old still in it.
Police from the auto crimes unit jumped into action, using license plate readers to track the car's movements. Officers said they were able to identify the license plate and immediately began tracking it.
The trail led officers to a parking lot, where they located the stolen vehicle. They ordered the suspect out of the car and moved in to rescue the toddler.
Saleem Martin, 21, was arrested and charged with kidnapping, among other charges, according to the report. Officers took him into custody at the scene.
The 2-year-old was returned safely to her mother. Officers said the child was soon asking them for high-fives and even offered to share her sippy cup, a lighthearted ending to what could have been a tragic day.