Moms have to deal with mom shaming wherever they go. Somewhere, someone is always judging. Seasoned moms, on the other hand, understand that nobody's perfect. We all make mistakes at times, and we're lucky if nothing comes of them.
But one mom in Oregon likely had no idea that she'd be mom-shamed by a man who openly stole her car. The thief struck in Beaverton, Oregon, outside of a grocery store. The mom had parked her car to run in quickly, leaving her 4-year-old in the back. While this may not be the best move, it's possible the woman knew that getting her child in and out of the car would have taken longer than the mission itself.
According to Insider, all she needed was some milk and meat. She left the door unlocked and the car running, making her an instant target. However, an unlocked door doesn't make it OK for a robber to strike — it just makes it easier.
According to the New York Post, the car thief immediately got into the front seat of the car, a 2013 Honda Pilot, as if it were his. He had no clue that the woman's son was in back, and it was a big surprise. It didn't take him long to return once he realized the problem.
The thief went back to return the child and lecture the mom, who had just discovered that her car and son gone. "He actually lectured the mother for leaving the child in the car and threatened to call the police on her," said Beaverton police spokesman Officer Matt Henderson. But the man still took off with the car.
"Obviously, we're thankful he brought the little one back and had the decency to do that," the officer continued. It seems as if he had no trouble being a car thief, but didn't want to add kidnapper to his résumé. Still, it makes it seem like he was more upset that the mom's actions put a wrench in his plan.
The whole thing is so bizarre that it's almost funny. While no crime should have happened in the first place, perhaps the thief will legitimately make the mom change her mind about leaving her kids behind, even for short errands. Most criminals likely wouldn't have gone back to return the kid, especially if the police were already on the way.
For him to threaten to call the police himself is what's truly humorous in a story where so much could have gone wrong. It's unclear if the woman was ever reunited with her car, but hopefully, that mystery will be solved soon. She's probably just counting her lucky stars that she doesn't have to look for her poor child.
While many moms have likely been in a similar situation, it's important for them to know that crime does happen. It may be a pain to unbuckle your child and take them out of the car for a short mission, but it's much better than the pain and heartbreak of losing your child. This is proof that it can happen, and this was still one of the best-case scenarios.
Family Education made a point to state that such an act may have been more common back in the day. As kids ourselves, we were often left in the car while our parents ran to the convenience store or went to run an errand. That may be why many parents today don't think twice about it.
Writer Brittany McCabe detailed her own experience growing up, saying, "As a busy, single mother, [my mom] did what she needed to do, to get the job done. But, she always used common sense and I never felt as though I was in danger. Unfortunately, there are some who lack reasoning and there have been far too many horror stories without a happy ending."
Now it's more of a gray area. There are 19 states in the US that have actually criminalized this act. That's in part to Kaitlin's Law, which went into effect back in 2001. The law was named after a little girl named Kaitlin who, at 6 months old, died after being left alone in a car for two hours.
Aside from carjacking and child abduction, there are other dangers to children left in cars. In the summertime, heat stroke is a big issue, and it's often fatal. Carbon monoxide poisoning and emotional trauma are two other big reasons why it's good to always take them out.
Yet obviously, car theft is also a crime. And unfortunately, it's been on the rise. According to The New York Times, a "new wave of car thefts seems to stem from a combination of simple carelessness and the same technological advancement that once made stealing cars nearly impossible: the key fob." Much like the carelessness of the woman leaving her door unlocked, many people have also made it easy for their cars to be stolen out of carelessness.
They report that thefts are also going up in cities like New York. And that's often due to delivery drivers. Deliveries have risen quite a bit since early 2020, and many drivers choose to leave their car running outside of the home. It's a small window, but a car can definitely get stolen in that time.
"This is a very stupid problem to have,” a Hartford Police Department official said to reporters last month, per The New York Times. During the conversation, over five stolen cars had turned up, and plenty of teenagers were arrested for committing the crime. "The technology that was created specifically to eliminate car thefts, such as key fob technology, is now being used against us," they continued.
Even if the cars show up without any damage, it's a terrible problem to have. And it's a reminder that people are really hurting right now. We need to do better — but we also need to be cautious and make choices that help ensure our safety and the safety of loved ones. This situation may be odd, but it could have ended much worse.
