Seven-Year-Old Girl Jumps From Stolen Car

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DALLAS (CBS11) - A Dallas mother is thankful to have her seven-year-old daughter and her car back from a thief after what she calls a mistake she'll never make again.

Crystal Matthews left her car unattended for what she says was less than a minute in front of Kids Corner Daycare off South Polk Street in Oak Cliff as she went inside to drop off her son.

However, with the keys in the ignition and her purse in the front seat, those seconds were long enough for a thief to spot the car and jump into the driver's seat.

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Meanwhile, sitting quietly in the back seat was Matthews' daughter, Payton.

"I was like, 'My baby is in the car.' My baby is in the car,'" Matthews said.

As the Dallas mother ran after her car, Payton opened her car door and jumped.

The child scrapped her knee and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Matthews said after Tuesday's incident, she's learned her lesson and says she will never leave her car unattended again.

"I never realized how serious and dangerous it can be until today," says Matthews.  "I'm just glad we're okay, she's one piece, and was brave enough to jump out of the car."

Despite her daughter having already jumped out, Matthews said she held onto the trunk of her car for nearly a quarter of a mile as the thief drove down South Polk Street before ditching the car and running away.

"I love my car," said Matthews.

Dallas investigators searched the car for fingerprints. The police department said the investigation is "ongoing."