PLANTATION, FLA. (WSVN) — A man was arrested after allegedly stealing a woman’s running vehicle with her 10-year-old and 8-month-old daughters still inside, outside a dry cleaners in Plantation.
Police arrested 27-year-old Travaughn Gaines Saturday, after he reportedly took the vehicle from outside One Price Dry Cleaners at 8263 West Broward Boulevard around 6:30 p.m. on September 15.
The mother had briefly left her car running with the children inside while she ran into the dry cleaners. Gaines took advantage of the moment, got into the vehicle, and drove off.
A dry cleaners worker described the tense scene: “A gentleman that was pacing the parking lot just went into her car and drove off. There were children in the car and everything.”
The woman immediately called police, fearing her children had been kidnapped. The worker and others chased the car but lost it after it sped toward Westside Hospital.
Police later received a 911 call from the Renaissance Hotel where Gaines dropped off the children and sought help from hotel staff. Court records noted that as the car was leaving, the 10-year-old briefly contemplated jumping from the moving vehicle but stayed inside with her infant sister.
After abandoning the car, Gaines used the mother’s debit card, spending $120 at a smoke shop in Hollywood. The clerk reported Gaines appeared nervous during the purchase.
Gaines was arrested days later and appeared in court on Sunday.
The dry cleaners worker expressed relief that the children were unharmed: “That’s the most important thing. That’s what I cared about the most.”
Gaines remains in Broward County Jail facing charges of kidnapping a child under 13, confining a child without parental consent, grand theft auto, and grand theft between $10,000 and $20,000.
