'Oh God No' Said Grandmother After Toddler Taken In Stolen 'Puffer' Car
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) – A grandmother says it couldn't have been more than 2 minutes. Her daughter's sick child was sleeping in the back seat, so she left the car running and quickly stepped inside the house. When she turned around her car was taking off down the street with a stranger behind the wheel.
The car has been recovered and the child was found safe, but the suspect is still on the run.
The theft happened Monday night when Odessa Houston's daughter left the car running with her 3-year-old inside in the 2200 block of Kenton Street. She told police she went inside her mother's home for a short time when she noticed someone stole her car.
"I just bust out crying, 'Oh God no,' " Houston said. "Right away we had two people on two different cellphones calling 911."
Officers found the vehicle a short time later with the child still inside. The mother said her son, Eli, was sleeping in the car after taking medicine for the flu.
"Everything negative went through my head," Houston said.
In a hurry to find Eli and the stolen car, several aurora police officers rushed to the neighborhood.
"An officer observed the vehicle in the area of East 23rd Avenue and Ironton Street. The vehicle pulled to the side of the road and a black male suspect ran from it. The officer pursued after the suspect on foot; however he lost sight of the suspect," police said.
The suspect left a trail of footprints in the snow giving police a good idea where he might be, but they were unable to locate him.
The suspect is described as a black man, approximately 5-foot-8 with a slim build. He was wearing a stocking cap, blue sweatshirt and grey sweatpants.
Houston said her daughter has learned a lesson about leaving children unattended.
"She will never leave him in the car again. I don't care if it's one second," Houston said.
Houston said the thief got away with her daughter's purse and cellphone.
Additional Information From The Aurora Police Department
f you have any information about this suspect the East Metro Auto Theft Team (EMATT) would like to hear from you. Their tip line number is 303-739-1699 or you can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
