It took less than 20 seconds for a thief to smash the windows out of a woman’s car that was parked outside of her child’s day care.
On Monday afternoon, in the time it took the mother to pick up her child, the suspect took off with her purse and laptop.
The day care’s surveillance video shows the suspect pull into the parking lot in what police describe as a charcoal Nissan SUV. The suspect parks behind the mother’s van. Within seconds, the thief smashes the passenger-side window and drives off.
The owner of the day care doesn’t want her business's name out there but wants parents to be on high alert.
“I think this is a very safe area,” she said. “I think it was probably a random hit.”
Police said daycares, fitness centers and convenience stores are easy targets for this type of crime.
The Gladstone, Missouri day care owner said parents often times leave their cars running while they go inside to pick up their child. Other times, she said parents will leave their valuables locked inside the car. She wants what happened at her daycare to serve as a reminder that crimes like this happen within seconds.
“I want parents to be aware, that you put your stuff away so they can’t see it, especially if you have kids sitting in the car,” she said. “Even if they’re old enough-take them out of the car because criminals-they don’t really care.”
Gladstone police say they’re looking for the driver of the Nissan SUV. The license plate has not been released. Anyone who recognizes the vehicle or person in the video should contact police at 816-436-3550.
