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Children Inside Stolen Van Unharmed
April 18, 2011
Two children were unharmed when the unlocked vehicle they were secured in was stolen from an Escambia County convenience store early Sunday morning.
Deputies were called at 6:19 a.m. to the Tom Thumb, 1321 North W Street, after a black male stole a van that was left unlocked and running in the parking lot. A two-year-old and a fourteen-month-old were in the vehicle at the time of the theft.
According to the children’s mother, 27-year-old Cheryl Lynn Chavers, she parked her 1994 Plymouth Voyager in the parking lot of the store. She left the vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition and the engine running. She also left her two children in the vehicle as she went into the store to buy milk and cigarettes. As she was paying for her purchases, the clerk told her that someone was in her vehicle.
As Chavers ran from the store her vehicle was being driven out of the parking lot. She ran towards the vehicle screaming, “Give me my kids.” Chavers reached the vehicle as it was stopped for traffic at the corner of Lee and North X Streets.
As Chavers was pounding on the driver side door to her vehicle, screaming for the suspect to release her children, the suspect got out of the van. Chavers told deputies that he reached under his shirts, as if he had a gun, and demanded money. He was able to take a cell phone from Chavers before telling her, “Take the car and get out of her before I shoot you.”
The suspect was described as a black male, of thin build and around six-feet tall, wearing a dark colored hat, blue shirt and jeans.
Deputies are reminding people to never leave infants or small children unattended or alone in vehicles.
Anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect in this case is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Comments
22 Responses to “Children Inside Stolen Van Unharmed”
wow, I can not believe the people on here judging this poor mom for a mistake she has made and I am sure learned from. I guess u all are the perfect responsable parents huh ?? Can’t even seem to follow whats in the Bible about not judging others but you are so smart right ! This lady done nothing wrong, she did make a mistake which we have all made mistakes and sure it could have turned out worse, the sky could fall out today as well, lots can happen but we make mistakes and learn for them, I can not imagine this happening to me and then to have people belittle u after all the psychological damage this poor woman is going through becauase of this, you people are just rude and I will be praying for this woman to forgive herslef and be safe with her kids !
All you people throwing stones at a mom who made a poor decision. Like all of you out there have ALWAYS made the right decision when it comes to raising children. Idiots and Freaks like the one that stole the car with the kids is why we cant have the FREEDOM that we used to have. This mom, whom I am sure has learned a valuable lesson and will have nightmares to come did make a bad judgment. But you gotta talk about smoking cigs!!! Give me a break, she was on her way to work, which is more than I can say about some of the bloggers that have nothing better to do than judge this woman!!!! Yet, some of you act like the cowards that threw rocks and shunned the prostitute that washed our Almighty Lord’s (Jesus) Feet and what did he do?. The opposite of what you are ALL doing. Thanks to those that have a little sympathy. And the rest of you keep living your dreams in your Llittle Glass Houses.
I propse she get a second set of keys so she could lock the van up when she got out to run in the store. But she set the e-brake in case one of the kids gets ambitious and pulls the car into gear . Then we could just laugh at the theif as he tried to open the door as they Call the cops . It was probably a known crack head in the area that did this . He should already be locked up but hasn’t yet. F
now hear this. we do not leave the kiddos in the car for any reason what so ever. if it is raining, too bad. they get wet. even if we are just going to dash in real quick like, no, no, no, we do not leave the kiddos in the car. and so what if they are unruly and running all over the store…too bad! stay at home if you cannot protect your children. it is against the law to leave the kiddos in the car and i know that is hard for some of you to understand so how about this…your children are precious and nothing at the store is worth putting them at risk if you can’t take them in with you. that being said, i hope they find this low life suspect and he gets what he’s got coming to him.
ok gotta say I don’t leave the keys nor leave it running, but I have walked into the store, paid for my gas or whatever and walked back out without undoing 2 or 3 carseats, carrying 1 child and holding the hand of the other(s), only to have the one that can walk run through the store to the candy dept, start begging and crying for something, then getting to the counter and dropping change all over the floor, and if you happen to be the one behind me, then you have to wait for me to pick it all up, litsen to crying children because I probably woke one up to take them in and didn’t buy them anything, because after all I was just gonna run in , pay for gas and leave. Now, next time I’m in the store I want to see little children in everyone of your arms that have critisized this woman, no she should never leave a vehicle running with kids in it and has probably learned her lesson, but you people be real here, get a child out in the rain,, please,,,, to pay for gas…….
And by the way, won’t this car thief be charged with kidnapping now,, I’m thinking
if your gonna steal a vehicle better make sure there are no kids in it….
@WORRIED RESIDENT…………….Why does this sound fishy, the gas alone is worth a fortune, not to mention scrap metal prices are up. @ T……Didn’t know leaving your kids in the car made you more fertile….thanks for the insight !! As for the rest of the sarcastic commenter’s, thank god she did leave her kids in the van, other wise you would have missed this opportunity to make youself fell special by belittling someone for their misfortune, the only real mistake she made is not kicking his sorry thieving butt then running over him on her way out of the parking lot……..dragging a car thief under your vehicle always sends a strong message to other would be car thieves, and yes my parents left us in the car to shop and dad always told us ” don’t let anybody mess with the car’ on his out and if you knew what was good for you, you didn’t ! Raised my kids the same, mess with my car and they’ll beat you up and take your wallet so they can find you and beat you up again later !!
well here is the first stone,
I am not perfect but I have never left my children unattended in a running car!
it only takes a few seconds to make a life long mistake!
this could have ended much worse than it did.
this lady needs help!
Well, neighbor, ‘ol mama’ aided and abetted in this fiasco, and she is no hero by running down the vehicle. If the thief had a gun, it would have been a whole different story. It started with her own irresponsibility, she has no one else to blame but herself. Stupid is as stupid does.
charge the mother.
leaving the children unattended in a running car is unreal! what was this lady thinking! I would love to have a talk with her about being a parent, but she probably would miss the point!
@T….
No I haven’t and I can honestly say I never would do that but like I said
“Let the PERFECT parent cast the first stone”.
My adult children managed to grow up happy and healthy by the way.
The sorry lowdown good for nothing car theif is the one to be crucified here and the likes of him are the reason we CAN’T leave our children unattended.
FSS 316.6135 states (1) No parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for a child younger than 6 years of age shall leave such child unattended or unsupervised in a motor vehicle for a period in excess of 15 minutes; however, no such person shall leave a child unattended for any period of time if the motor vehicle is running or the health of the child is in danger.
Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (1) is guilty of a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable by a fine of:
Not more than $100; or
Not less than $50 and not more than $500 if the motor vehicle was running or the health of the child was in danger at the time of the violation.
Enough said: Cite her worthless butt.
All lily livers aside, Florida State Statutes require she be charged with leaving an ignition key in an unattended vehicle. Acts such as this cause auto theft, police chases, auto crashes, people getting hurt, and, attorneys getting very wealthy off your auto insurance. Dang.
Whitepunk………. THANK YOU!!
Neighbor……….I’m willing to bet that you have done the same. You can quote all you want, but my comment continues to be the same! IGNORANT!!
WHO WHO would leave their kids in a vehicle much less a running one? I don’t even leave my elementary school kids in the vehicle at a store people are crazy and kids are kids. Babies should never ever even if just paying for gas be left in the car. If someone took them or something happened just because a parent did not want to wake the child or undo the car seat that is just irresponsible parenting.
I’m with T
Come on people .. give her a break.
I don’t think she made the best decision here BUT if the ignorant one (the theif) hadn’t been there all would be well. She should, and I am sure she will, reconsider leaving the children in the vehicle unattended at any time.
Let the PERFECT parent cast the first stone.
I NEVER leave my son in the car. Even if its pouring rain. If i gotta get out and pay for gas, he comes w/ me. Id rather him be a little sick than kidnapped or dead. People think “it wont happen to me”, well guess what, why take that chance? There’s too many sick and twisted and desperate people out there these days. Glad the children are safe, Thank God.
This sounds fishy! Who tries to steal a van!! I don’t believe it!
First, never leave children unattended in a vehicle that is running or not running.
In the state of Texas, it is against the law to leave a vehicle unattended and the engine running even if there is no one in the vehicle.
Also, as I know it, insurance companies generally don’t pay for stolen vehicles if the keys are left in it, and especially if the engine is running.
Chavers is an idiot. Everyone knows that you do not leave you vehicle running and unlocked with or without kids inside. That is just totally asinine.
I don’t normally comment with negative, derogatory or harsh remarks, BUT, ANY mother who would leave her children in a car needs a leather belt, and for a pack of cigarettes.
I’m willing to bet it’s not the first time she has done it.
IGNORANT!
IGNORANT!
IGNORANT!
Just plain stupid! AND, I’m sure she will have 7 or 8 more!
Yet another reason why you NEVER EVER leave your children in a car unsupervised for any reason. You just never know what can happen.
She should be cited for child neglect.