Instacart delivery driver’s car stolen in Atlanta with toddler still in back seat

Man, 21, charged with kidnapping, other offences; authorities say toddler unharmed, reunited with parents

Published Aug 05, 2026  •  2 minute read

Saleem Martin faces various charges including kidnapping after an Instacart delivery driver in Atlanta had her car stolen while her daughter was still inside the vehicle. Photo by Atlanta Police Department

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An Atlanta mother working as an Instacart delivery driver had her car stolen with her two-year-old daughter still inside the vehicle, Fox News reported.

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It all happened around 4:30 p.m. on July 30, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

The woman was distraught when she reached Atlanta cops, judging from the 911 call and police body camera footage that were released after she left her car running during a delivery.

“Someone just stole my car and it has my two-year-old daughter in it,” the mother tells an Atlanta 911 dispatcher, who asks if the child was inside the vehicle.

“Yes, my two-year-old daughter was in the back seat. I was dropping off an Instacart order and I came back outside and my car is gone. My daughter was inside.”

After a moment, she cries out again: “My daughter was inside!”

Police body camera footage shows Saleem Martin, 21, being arrested by Atlanta Police after a female Instacart delivery driver reported her was car stolen with her two-year-old daughter still inside the vehicle (Atlanta Police Department) Photo by Atlanta Police Department

Vehicle found within 15 minutes

Using the city’s licence plate reader, the Atlanta Police auto crimes enforcement unit found the vehicle, with the male suspect and child inside, in under 15 minutes.

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“Hands up! Hands up!” an officer shouts to a male suspect in a body camera footage showing police surrounding the stolen vehicle and ordering the driver to get out.

“Hands on the window now,” another officer orders. “What you’re gonna do is you’re going to get out and face away from me, you understand me? Get out the car slow. Put your hands behind your back.”

Once cops take the suspect into custody, the toddler cries nearby with her mother saying: “It’s OK, baby. It’s OK, baby.”

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Accused faces 6 charges, including kidnapping

Saleem Martin, 21, was charged with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony.

Authorities said the toddler was unharmed and reunited with her parents.

The suspect allegedly said he got into the running vehicle to “get back to New Jersey” and wasn’t aware of the toddler’s presence in the back seat until he drove away.

An arrest warrant obtained by NBC affiliate 11Alive said the child’s mother later noticed that the bottom of her daughter’s dress was unbuttoned and the girl allegedly told her mom that “the man did it.”

The suspect was allegedly holding the child by the torso when he was found trying to duck down and hide between the seats, 11alive reported, leading to the Atlanta Police special victims unit investigating.

The suspect allegedly told investigators he was trying to calm the girl down.

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