FITCHBURG, Wis. (AP) -- Fitchburg police say a crime of opportunity led to some scary moments for a mother who left her infant in her running car while she dashed into a day care center to pick up another child.
It happened Wednesday evening outside the Reach Dane care center when a thief jumped in the car and took off. A responding police officer found the 7-month-old baby in a car seat on the other side of the building where the thief abandoned the child, who wasn't harmed.
WISC-TV reports Fitchburg is among communities seeing an increase in vehicle thefts with more than 400 in that city this year. Police say many of the thieves are juveniles. Lt. Chad Brecklin says just a few minutes away from a running car can create a potentially bad situation.
