Authorities say a child is safe after she was left in a car in Brentwood on Sunday night.

They say the 3-year-old girl was unattended when someone jumped into the vehicle and tried to steal it from a Checkers parking lot after 10 p.m.

Minutes after the car was stolen, police found it at the Broadway West Apartments. News 12 was told the two officers got the child out of the car and reunited her with her family unharmed.

“I read the paper all the time and it happens all over the country every day,” said Brentwood native David Proper.

In 2023, there were 105 children who were left in vehicles that were stolen, according to Director of Kids and Car Safety Amber Rollins. Also, according to the National Safety Council, 33 children died from being left in a hot car last year in the United States.

“It is a crime of opportunity,” said Rollins. “These thieves are sitting watching, waiting, they know where people feel comfortable leaving their cars running.”

“Never, never leave the kids in the car,” added Bay Shore’s Jasmine Cumberbatch. “Make sure you are always double checking, look back, always remind yourself you have kids in the car.

No arrests have been made at this time.