Georgia Mother Uses 'Find My iPhone' App To Track Down 9-Year-Old Son And His Alleged Kidnapper

A terrier-stricken Georgia mother used the Find My iPhone App to help police track down her nine-year-old son after her car was stolen with the child inside.

On April 4, Jerrica Moore had briefly exited her vehicle after she pulled into a parking lot outside the Goodwill store in Atlanta, leaving the engine running and her son inside when a man jumped into the car and sped off, according to the Atlanta Police Department (APD).

"Officers immediately responded to the scene and began their preliminary investigation," police wrote on Facebook.

Luckily, the horrified mother had the presence of mind to use the iPhone tracking feature to help lead investigators to her car. The Find My iPhone app allows users to locate their Apple devices.

"Ms. Moore was able to track her son’s iPhone using ‘my location’ and relay real-time tracking information to officers. Atlanta Police with the assistance of Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Fulton County PD and the Fulton County Sheriff’s responded and used the tracking information to work at locating the vehicle."

The suspect was tracked down and arrested after a brief pursuit, police said. He was identified as Darius White, 38.

"An Atlanta officer was able to spot the vehicle being closely pursued by GSP. The suspect attempted to flee from officers, but GSP was able to successfully execute a precision immobilization technique (PIT) to render the vehicle immobile," the post said.

The child didn’t appear to have sustained any injuries, however, he was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Hughes Spalding Hospital to be examined by doctors.

"Not all heroes wear capes," police concluded in their Facebook post.

"We thank all the officers and agencies involved in apprehending this suspect and getting this child to safety. We are happy to report the child and his mother have been reunited. We again remind the community to lock their cars, and remove all valuables, including their children, when exiting their vehicles."

Bodycam footage of the arrest shows an officer running to the shattered child and embracing him. The officer can be heard saying: 'You did a good job, you did a good job.'

"I was scared," the boy replies. "I was scared."

Speaking to Fox News, Amber Rollins, director at Kids and Car Safety said carjackings involving innocent children can occur anywhere.

"This is happening in safe, nice neighborhoods, convenience stores, daycares, in the driveways of people’s home," she said. "It’s a crime of opportunity. Thieves know when people are going to leave their car running while they just run in somewhere. No amount of time is safe."

"Bad guys are going to take advantage of the opportunity, and they don’t see the child in the back seat until they’ve already taken the car," Rollins added.

"Most of the time they realize very quickly and they panic and ditch the car, or dump the kid off the side of the road."