Baby found safe after North Minneapolis car theft
Minneapolis police say a 3‑month‑old baby was found safe about an hour after a man stole a car with the infant inside from a day care parking lot on the 900 block of Plymouth Avenue North just after 8 p.m. Tuesday. MPD, Hennepin County deputies, State Patrol air support, traffic agents and Minneapolis Fire launched a large grid search using city cameras, license‑plate readers and drones, and a statewide alert went out to law enforcement at 8:25 p.m. Investigators coordinated with the BCA to prepare an Amber Alert, but the child was located before it was issued when officers found the vehicle around 9:21 p.m. near the 1500 block of Bryant Avenue North with the baby unharmed inside. EMS evaluated the infant at the scene and reunited the child with the mother, while K‑9 units and officers searched for the suspect, who fled before they arrived. No arrests have been made, police haven’t said how the car was taken, and the case remains under investigation — raising fresh questions about both caregiver vigilance and how often the city now leans on high‑tech surveillance tools to respond when a child is in danger.
📌 Key Facts
- A car with a 3‑month‑old baby inside was stolen from a day care parking lot on the 900 block of Plymouth Avenue North just after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
- Multiple agencies used city cameras, license‑plate readers, drones and an organized grid search; a statewide alert went out at 8:25 p.m., and an Amber Alert was being prepared.
- Officers found the vehicle around 9:21 p.m. near the 1500 block of Bryant Avenue North with the baby safe inside; the suspect fled and remains at large.
📊 Relevant Data
Auto thefts in Minneapolis have surged about 25% from last year, with 1,450 reported auto thefts in the city so far in 2026.
Auto thefts spike in Minneapolis as high-tech hacks spread — Star Tribune
In 2026, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office has handled 23 youth auto-theft cases so far, including 16 from Minneapolis.
The Near North neighborhood in Minneapolis has a population that is 49.4% African American, 23.6% White, 8.7% Asian, and 11.2% two or more races.
Near North Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN Demographics — Point2 Homes
The Near North neighborhood in Minneapolis has a crime index of 174, indicating crime rates 74% higher than the national average of 100.
Near North Crime Statistics - Minneapolis, MN 2026 — DoorProfit
In Minneapolis, Black residents comprise about 18% of the population but are responsible for 88% of homicides, with a violent crime rate 27 times higher than that of White residents.
Maligning Minneapolis — City Journal
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time