Quick-Thinking Group Spots AMBER Alert Car, Help Cops Save Child [WATCH]

A group of friends in Maryland helped police locate a suspected child abductor after spotting the vehicle identified in an AMBER Alert. The incident ended with the safe recovery of a 1-year-old girl, as reported by The New York Post.

The Prince George’s County Police Department issued an AMBER Alert around 2 p.m. Saturday for 1-year-old Day-Rene Garris Collins. Authorities reported that the child had last been seen at her home earlier in the day wearing a white onesie.

Police identified the suspected abductor as Shannon Collins, a relative of the child, and said she was driving a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV with Maryland license plate 8GK3445.

MISSING: 36 y/o Shannon Collins and 1 y/o Day-Rene Collins. Last seen on 8/30/25 at approximately 10:15 a.m. in the 4200 block of Captain Perry Ct. The missing male is 6’1” & 215 lbs. Last seen wearing gray sweatpants. The missing child was last seen wearing a white onesie. The… pic.twitter.com/H6pHcth990

— PGPDNEWS (@PGPDNews) August 30, 2025

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The alert cautioned the public not to approach Collins or the vehicle.

Later that afternoon, a group of friends traveling together noticed a Volkswagen that matched the vehicle description. In a TikTok video recorded by one of the friends, the SUV pulled up next to them, prompting the group to shout in recognition.

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When the car moved in front of them at a red light, they were able to confirm the license plate number.

The video then cut to police officers surrounding the Volkswagen farther up the road as Collins, 36, was taken into custody.

In the recording, one of the friends credited their actions with helping police track the suspect, while another could be heard asking why Collins thought he could get away with “kidnapping kids.”

@umwhat74 video creds to my friends: @jawohn @parissss ♬ original sound – ♱

Police later confirmed that a citizen tip led directly to the arrest.

“Thanks to a great community partnership, an alert citizen spotted the amber alert car,” the Prince George’s County Police Department wrote on X.

“That citizen contacted Maryland State police who relayed the locations to the Prince George’s County PD through our inner operable radio system.”

Thanks to a great community partnership, an alert citizen spotted the amber alert car. That citizen contacted Maryland State police who relayed the locations to the Prince Georges County PD through our inner operable radio system. An alert Prince Georges County officer quickly… https://t.co/mtVv5ypph4

— PGPDNEWS (@PGPDNews) August 30, 2025

Authorities reported that the child was recovered unharmed and that Collins, who is related to the child, was arrested without incident. Officials did not specify the exact nature of the relationship between Collins and the girl.

The TikTok user, posting under the name @umwhat74, explained that his group had called police and only shared the video later because of the unusual circumstances. Comments on the video praised the friends for their quick response.

One commenter wrote, “I was in Amber Hagerman’s Girl Scout troop when she was kidnapped (she’s the reason for AMBER alerts). Thank you for paying attention and calling this in. She was taken when we were kids and I’ll be 40 this year and her disappearance still haunts me.”

Another said, “The chances of this happening to yall was so low thank you for saving that baby.”

Others noted that the group’s actions showed the purpose of AMBER Alerts.

“When people joke about amber alerts saying ‘what you want me to do?’ This! They are for that one random person who just happens to be right there at the right time. Thank you for saving that child!” one comment read.

Collins remains in custody as police continue the investigation.

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