AMBER Alert advisors: Don't leave kids alone in vehicles during holiday rush
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The coming holiday rush has prompted a reminder from the Ohio AMBER Alert Advisory Committee to make sure children are not left unattended in vehicles, even briefly.
Between 2021 and 2024, six AMBER Alerts in Ohio were triggered by incidents where children were left in stolen vehicles. In each case, the children were left alone in running cars while parents or guardians briefly ran errands, such as picking up food or dropping off siblings.
“It’s simply not safe to leave children in vehicles, regardless of whether the engine is running,” said Ohio State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Raines. “The risk of abduction, even if it’s low, is not worth the potential harm to a child.”
The committee urges parents and caregivers to prioritize child safety during the holiday season and beyond. Leaving children unattended in vehicles, even for a short time, can expose them to dangers like abduction, heatstroke, or hypothermia.
