Thief steals car, finds 4-year-old child in backseat, returns to scold mother

"He actually lectured the mother for leaving the child in the car and threatened to call the police on her," said Beaverton police spokesman Matt Henderson.

After scolding the mother for leaving her child in the car, the thief drove off once again.

The woman took her 4-year-old child with her early in the morning to purchase some milk and meat products, leaving the car running for her child who she had left in the car.

However, she also left the doors to the vehicle unlocked, allowing the thief to easily break in and steal the vehicle.

"What she did was not a crime," Henderson admitted, "but she left the car running, so take that extra step, take the keys with you. It’s a good reminder to take extra precaution when we have our little ones with us."

According to Henderson, the car theft was a "crime of opportunity," and the thief did not set out to steal a vehicle until he saw it sitting there, engine on and doors unlocked.

"He orders her to take the kid out of the car," Henderson said. "Obviously, we’re thankful he brought the little one back and had the decency to do that."

The thief remains at large.