A Georgia mother reported that her car was stolen on July 30 near 930 Spring St. in Atlanta while she was completing an Instacart delivery; her 2-year-old daughter was inside. Using license-plate readers, police located the vehicle within about 15 minutes and arrested 21-year-old Saleem Martin in a Publix parking lot. The child was unharmed and reunited with her parents; Martin faces multiple charges and the Special Victims Unit is investigating warrant allegations of inappropriate contact.
Atlanta Instacart Delivery: Car Stolen With 2-Year-Old Inside — Suspect Arrested Within 15 Minutes
Saleem Martin being arrested in Atlanta on July 30, 2026Credit: Atlanta Police Dept.
A Georgia mother says her vehicle was stolen while she was completing an Instacart delivery in Atlanta on July 30 — with her 2-year-old daughter still inside. Police located the car and arrested a suspect within minutes, and the child was reunited with her parents unharmed.
What Happened
According to the Atlanta Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 4:36 p.m. near 930 Spring St. A distraught mother called 911 after returning from a delivery to find her running car gone and her toddler still in the backseat. A recording released by police captures the mother telling the dispatcher,
"Someone just stole my car and it has my 2-year-old daughter in it."
Rapid Police Response
Officers from the department's Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit determined the vehicle had been left running with the child inside. Using the city's license-plate reader system, investigators located the car within about 15 minutes and found 21-year-old Saleem Martin in a Publix parking lot. Body-worn camera footage released by police shows officers ordering Martin out of the vehicle; he was handcuffed as the child's cries can be heard from inside.
Charges and Allegations
Police said Martin was arrested and has been charged with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Details in an arrest warrant obtained by local media allege inappropriate contact: the warrant states the toddler's dress was unbuttoned and that Martin had both hands on the child's torso when officers encountered him. These details are described as allegations in the warrant and are under investigation by the Special Victims Unit.
Saleem Martin mug shotCredit: Atlanta Police Dept.
According to the warrant, Martin allegedly told investigators he touched the child to "calm her down" and that he had jumped into the vehicle in an effort to "get back to New Jersey" before realizing a child was in the backseat. Authorities have not disclosed any additional motive; the investigation remains active.
Child's Condition and Resources
Officials said the toddler was not physically injured and was reunited with her parents following the arrest. Because the case involves alleged child abuse, the Special Victims Unit is handling aspects of the inquiry.
If you suspect child abuse or need assistance, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Note: The facts above include both confirmed police statements and allegations from an arrest warrant. The suspect's statements and the warrant's claims are being investigated and have not been proven in court.
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