Child jumps out of moving vehicle, mother holds on as man tries to steal car

A Dallas, Texas mother learned the hard way not to leave her car keys in the ignition and her daughter in the backseat after a thief nearly got away with both.

Crystal Matthews told KTVT News she left her vehicle unattended for “less than a minute” while she took her four-year-old son to daycare.

That’s when Matthews looked out the facility’s window to see a man get behind the wheel of her car and back out of the parking spot.

WATCH: Dallas girl safe after jumping out of mom’s car when a theft realized mom left car keys in vehicle. Brian New reports.

1:26 Child jumps out of moving vehicle, mother holds on as man tries to steal car

“I’m, like, my baby is in the car, my baby is in the car,” Matthews told KTVT.

Matthews is seen in surveillance video grabbing onto the vehicle for about 400 metres before the thief gave up and ran away. But not before Matthews’ daughter realized what was happening.

“I opened the door and I jumped out,” said Payton Matthews, 7, to KTVT.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I opened the door and I jumped out," said Payton Matthews, 7, to KTVT.

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The young girl suffered a scrape to her knee and was sent to hospital as a precaution.

READ MORE: Amber Alert lifted after baby in stolen car found safe in Toronto

Matthews said she is relieved her daughter is safe.

“I never realized how serious and dangerous it can be until today,” said Matthews to KTVT. “It’s a lesson learned.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I never realized how serious and dangerous it can be until today," said Matthews to KTVT. "It's a lesson learned."

Police continue to investigate.

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