‘Profits over people’: Volkswagen refused to provide GPS data on stolen vehicle with toddler inside until family paid $150 to renew subscription service, lawsuit alleges

A family in Illinois filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen alleging the company refused to provide location data for their vehicle stolen from their driveway — with their terrified 2-year-old son inside — until they renewed their subscription for $150. (Photos provided by their attorney)

A family in Illinois filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen, alleging the company refused to provide location data for their vehicle stolen from their driveway — with their terrified 2-year-old son inside — until they renewed their subscription for $150. (Photos provided by attorney.)

An Illinois family alleges Volkswagen refused to provide location data for their vehicle stolen from their driveway — with their terrified 2-year-old son inside — until they renewed their subscription for $150, a new lawsuit said.

Taylor Shepherd’s son was taken on Feb. 23 at 3:35 p.m. outside the family’s home in Libertyville, north of Chicago. Mom had just taken in her 7-year-old and was about to get her toddler out of her 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SUV when two men pulled up behind her car, beat her and knocked her down, then stole her vehicle with her baby inside and ran her over during the getaway, leaving her with tire marks and broken bones. She was four months pregnant at the time.

Despite her injuries, she immediately called 911, and deputies and an ambulance were dispatched to her home.

In a desperate search for the endangered toddler, a deputy contacted Volkswagen and Verizon Connect and requested GPS tracking data for Shepherd’s SUV.

Despite the deputy’s explanation of the “exigent circumstances” in this case, the car company rep refused to provide the location data because the free trial period for the service had expired and would not reveal the location until $150 had been paid.

The situation was life or death, the deputy reiterated.

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