Inmates save baby from locked SUV using theft skills

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New Zealand Herald


19 Feb, 2019 7:08pm

A group of inmates in Florida, US, were unlikely good Samaritans after using their theft skills to rescue a baby locked in a car.

The father had just bucked baby Dallas into her car seat and tossed his keys in the front seat. The doors then locked, leaving the baby in the car and a desperate dad locked outside.

A group of inmates were reportedly repairing medians nearby, under police supervision, when they noticed the incident.

What happened next has been described as "a rare moment of inmates working with law enforcement".

Read more: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12205321

[chwaliszewski]

1. Um....maybe break a window?

I'd like to think my child was more valuable than the cost of replacing some glass...just saying.

[Raine]

2. Better to avoid breaking the glass if possible

the glass could fly all over and end up hitting the kid. Years ago my car was broken into, they broke the window and glass was all over. I was finding broken glass for just about as long as I had the car because it flew everywhere.

[mucifer]

3. I think it's more the breaking glass would scare the baby. The glass they use in cars is

made to shatter in a way to not cause injury.

[LisaL]

5. The inmate with his theft skills was right there.

So no need to break the glass.

[chwaliszewski]

7. I think everyone is missing my point...

I realize the inmates 'saved the day' but I'm commenting on how the dad was desperate after locking his keys and the baby in the car. Had there been nobody around and he had no access to a phone, break the window furthest from the child.

[Sapient Donkey]

11. Which is very likely what he would have done had came down to that.

If I was in that situation and I saw some cops or firefighters or some other first responders near by, I would go to them first to see if they had some tools available to do it quickly and safely. In this case, there were some unique human resources available.

[dflprincess]

19. "I have a particular set of skills....." nt

[yardwork]

18. It's not as easy to break a car window as you might think.

There isn't always a handy crowbar or brick when you need one.

[MBS]

4. US news outlets have more detail.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/17/us/florida-inmates-baby-rescue/index.html

My favorite quote, from the distraught father:

"Thank God for the criminals in the world. I respect all y'all"

[LisaL]

6. I think we can guess what the inmate was arrested for.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Nice article. Surprising to learn it can take someone knowledgeable 5 minutes

with a wire hanger to git'er done. No special secret tools or anything.

Thanks, a lot.

[onetexan]

13. i'm unsure if that was a compliment or a diss

nevertheless a great deed was done for a small child. Thank goodness for the kindhearted inmates

[Bayard]

8. Why didn't the cops have their little locked door opening tool?

I think its called a jimmy? If the inmate could break in, they should have been able to do it.

[Mosby]

9. slim jim.

I don't know if cops carry them, but tow truck drivers do.

[Sapient Donkey]

10. Aren't slim jims less useful on newer cars too?

[Mosby]

15. mostly they dont work on cars without post locks

[Cold War Spook]

14. In NC they do carry a tool that wedges between door and frame so another tool just reaches in.

It takes less than two minutes and does not damage the car. Don't ask what kind of idiot leaves the car running and manually locks the car and gets out. My wife already asked me that.

[a la izquierda]

17. This has only happened once to me...

But I started my car to warm it up when I cleared the ice and snow. My car has a fob, not a regular key.
Anyhoo, I closed the door and all the doors locked...with my phone and keys inside of course.
In like 10 degree weather. Luckily there was exactly one window open that I was able to pull myself into. I scared my dogs so badly one peed on the floor.

[Lars39]

20. I've learned to roll my window down some

when my car is going to be valet parked, it’s still running, and they’re backed up.

[Cold War Spook]

21. May I ask how old you are?

I am 75 and still roll down my windows and tape TV shows.

[Lars39]

22. Older than my teeth and younger than my hair.

[Cold War Spook]

23. Then you may roll down your windows.

The youngins are probably wondering what we are talking about.

[Lars39]

24. lol, thanks!

I’m not up there yet, but there’s days...

[Boxerfan]

16. True story my Mom told me. She worked for a few of the "Bigs" in the movie making bussines.

They had a young staffer hire on the first week with them when a Production manager locked himself out of his van with materials etc. inside.

They worked for about 20 minutes trying to get the car open.
The new hire-a young women- meekly approached my Mom and said she could probably open the door. Asking how she would know something like that she said "well to be honest I used to have friends who taught me".
Ah-Ok-and she opened it in a few seconds while they looked on.

Never heard any more but I hope they kept her on after the shoot as a steady helper. That was the way in back then.