A routine repossession turned into a scare on Detroit’s west side Friday afternoon when a driver took off with a 2-year-old still inside the car, according to police. The child’s mother had stepped into a nearby home and came back out to see the vehicle being driven away near Fullerton and Linwood. Officers remained at the scene for nearly an hour until the repossession driver returned. The child was not hurt, and Detroit police say the investigation is still open.
What the police found
According to Metro Detroit News, officers said the repossession occurred in the Fullerton and Linwood area. After speaking with the police, the driver "lowered the car" and left. Investigators are still sorting out how and why the vehicle was taken while a child remained inside, the outlet reports.
How this fits a larger pattern
Earlier this month, ClickOnDetroit reported that a 13-month-old was later found alive in an impounded vehicle at a tow lot in Eastpointe. In 2023, FOX 2 Detroit covered a Flint repossession case in which an agent said they had not checked the car before driving off with a 2-year-old inside.
Questions for tow operators and parents
The Detroit incident has renewed calls for more careful checks by tow and repossession crews so that no one is left inside a vehicle. Police say the probe is ongoing and have not released any information about possible charges or any business that may have been involved. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the department, according to Metro Detroit News.
