Volkswagen has been accused of refusing to assist the police in tracking a stolen vehicle, in which a two-year-old child was trapped, until the company was given an outstanding fee for the use of the car’s tracking device.
The Lake County Sherrif’s Office in Illinois said that the car maker’s failure to cooperate led to a delay in efforts to locate the child. Volkswagen has admitted to a “serious breach of process” for not cooperating with the police, although the company has attempted to place some blame on another organisation with which it has a procedure in place for emergency requests from law enforcement. The car was recovered with the child safely inside.
The incident began when the 34-year-old mother pulled up at her home in Libertyville, around 40 miles north of Chicago, after visiting a pet store.
As she entered her home, a man emerged from the passenger seat of a white BMW and attempted to steal her Volkswagen Atlas SUV, with her two-year-old son inside.
The woman was overpowered by the man, who battered her before stealing the car. The mother called 911 and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The child was later found abandoned in a parking lot some 10 miles away. Police are still searching for the thieves and have described the BMW as a 2000s model with a black bumper and a loud exhaust.
»Volkswagen refused to help police locate stolen SUV with toddler in the back until they were paid«
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