Dad charged after thief steals car with his toddler inside

A thief stole a car Wednesday night in Atlanta with a child inside the vehicle, according to Atlanta police.

Authorities said Wendall Marshall Sr. went to a convenience store on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive at James P. Brawley Drive and left his 2-year-old child in the backseat with the car running.

Officers said Marshall told them while he was inside the store, he kept an eye on his vehicle . He said as he was about to pay the cashier, he saw out of the corner of his eye the vehicle’s door close, according to the police report.

A thief had jumped inside the car and drove off, according to police.

The vehicle was quickly recovered a short distance away with the child safe inside. The boy was turned over to his mother.

The father of the child was charged with reckless conduct and police said more charges are possible.

The suspect was nowhere to be found.