During this holiday season, a child car safety group is sounding the alarm. Nearly a dozen cars were stolen over Thanksgiving with kids left inside, highlighting a serious issue. Kids and Car Safety, which compiles data on such incidents, reports 11 such cases involving 17 children under 14 during Thanksgiving alone. And so far this year, 107 children have been left unattended in stolen vehicles.

Trauma and Impact

While most victims are eventually reunited with their families, the emotional scars left by these events can be profound. As Janette Fennell, president of Kids and Car Safety, points out, these incidents place significant demands on law enforcement. The trauma not only affects the children but also their families.In 2016, an infant in a carjacked SUV was found unharmed in Baltimore City. However, tragically, two cases this year resulted in fatalities when parents tried to stop car thieves who had unknowingly taken their child. With colder weather, there is a sharp rise in car thefts involving unattended children.

Stealing Trends

Since 2012, when the group first started tracking these numbers, the number of cars stolen with kids inside has been steadily increasing. It peaked at 265 in 2022 before dipping to 162 in 2023. Over Thanksgiving, there were three separate incidents in New York City and one in California where a vehicle with three children was stolen. In Indianapolis, a vehicle with a 4-month-old and a 5-month-old was reported stolen.Even in the safest neighborhoods, car thefts can occur in seconds, especially when vehicles are left running or unlocked. Most incidents happen at convenience stores, residential driveways, and places where thieves think people feel safe leaving their vehicle momentarily unattended. Often, thieves are unaware a child is inside until after the vehicle is taken, compounding the danger.

Preventive Measures

Kids and Car Safety emphasizes that children should never be left alone in a car, not even for a minute. The group advises parents to use drive-thru or curbside pickup services whenever possible and to call ahead for assistance when going to stores. Many businesses are happy to accommodate families with young children.Parents are also advised to keep car doors locked and keys with them when pumping gas with children in the vehicle. These simple steps can make a big difference in preventing avoidable tragedies and ensuring a safe and joyful holiday season.Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.