Volkswagen refused to assist police locate a stolen SUV with a toddler trapped within the back until they got an unpaid fee to be used of the vehicle’s tracking device, Illinois cops said.
The automotive company has since admitted to a “serious breach of process” for the refusal to assist cops, who said the foot dragging led to a “delay” of their efforts to locate the tot, who was eventually recovered safely.
In a press release Friday, nevertheless, the troubled German automotive maker tried to shift the lion’s share of the blame to a different company.
“Volkswagen has a procedure in place with a third-party provider for Automotive-Net Support Services involving emergency requests from law enforcement,” a spokesperson told NBC.
“They’ve executed this process successfully in previous incidents. Unfortunately, on this instance, there was a serious breach of the method. We’re addressing the situation with the parties involved.”
The Lake County Sherrif’s Office said the seek for the abducted 2-year-old was stalled because of Volkswagen’s reluctance to fork over the vital information.
“Unfortunately, there was a delay, as Volkswagen Automotive-Net wouldn’t track the vehicle with the abducted child until they received payment to reactivate the tracking device within the stolen Volkswagen,” the law enforcement agency said.
It was not clear if the fee was paid before the kid was found.
Police said the horrifying incident began when the 34-year-old mother pulled into her home in Libertyville, a village 40 miles north of Chicago, around 3:30 p.m. after a visit to the pet store.
She had just brought one in every of her children inside when the thieves pulled up for the heist.
She got here back outside to take her toddler out of her Volkswagen Atlas SUV when she caught a person climbing out of the passenger side of a white BMW and attempting to get into her automotive.
The unidentified mother tried to fend the carjacker off and rescue her son, however the man eventually overpowered the six-months-pregnant woman.
“The offender battered the lady, knocking her to the bottom. He then stole her automotive with the kid inside,” cops said.
Each cars raced from the scene, with one driver running the mother over as they fled.
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The mother called 911 and was rushed to an area hospital with serious injuries. She was treated for a broken pelvis and a broken elbow, CBS Chicago reported.
Police said they found the 2-year-old boy after a 911 caller reported seeing the 2 vehicles abandon “a small child” within the parking zone of a Waukegan business, some 10 miles from where he was abducted.
Officers eventually found the stolen automotive, but are still looking out for the 2 thieves.
The BMW is described as a 2000s model with a black bumper and a loud exhaust.
Police said the person who battered the pregnant mother is tall and thin and was last seen wearing a gray zip-up hooded sweatshirt, and a light-weight green facemask.
Volkswagen didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment from The Post.
Volkswagen refused to assist police locate a stolen SUV with a toddler trapped within the back until they got an unpaid fee to be used of the vehicle’s tracking device, Illinois cops said.
The automotive company has since admitted to a “serious breach of process” for the refusal to assist cops, who said the foot dragging led to a “delay” of their efforts to locate the tot, who was eventually recovered safely.
In a press release Friday, nevertheless, the troubled German automotive maker tried to shift the lion’s share of the blame to a different company.
“Volkswagen has a procedure in place with a third-party provider for Automotive-Net Support Services involving emergency requests from law enforcement,” a spokesperson told NBC.
“They’ve executed this process successfully in previous incidents. Unfortunately, on this instance, there was a serious breach of the method. We’re addressing the situation with the parties involved.”
The Lake County Sherrif’s Office said the seek for the abducted 2-year-old was stalled because of Volkswagen’s reluctance to fork over the vital information.
“Unfortunately, there was a delay, as Volkswagen Automotive-Net wouldn’t track the vehicle with the abducted child until they received payment to reactivate the tracking device within the stolen Volkswagen,” the law enforcement agency said.
It was not clear if the fee was paid before the kid was found.
Police said the horrifying incident began when the 34-year-old mother pulled into her home in Libertyville, a village 40 miles north of Chicago, around 3:30 p.m. after a visit to the pet store.
She had just brought one in every of her children inside when the thieves pulled up for the heist.
She got here back outside to take her toddler out of her Volkswagen Atlas SUV when she caught a person climbing out of the passenger side of a white BMW and attempting to get into her automotive.
The unidentified mother tried to fend the carjacker off and rescue her son, however the man eventually overpowered the six-months-pregnant woman.
“The offender battered the lady, knocking her to the bottom. He then stole her automotive with the kid inside,” cops said.
Each cars raced from the scene, with one driver running the mother over as they fled.
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The mother called 911 and was rushed to an area hospital with serious injuries. She was treated for a broken pelvis and a broken elbow, CBS Chicago reported.
Police said they found the 2-year-old boy after a 911 caller reported seeing the 2 vehicles abandon “a small child” within the parking zone of a Waukegan business, some 10 miles from where he was abducted.
Officers eventually found the stolen automotive, but are still looking out for the 2 thieves.
The BMW is described as a 2000s model with a black bumper and a loud exhaust.
Police said the person who battered the pregnant mother is tall and thin and was last seen wearing a gray zip-up hooded sweatshirt, and a light-weight green facemask.
Volkswagen didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment from The Post.
