Update: Teenager arrested for stealing baby
The suspect has since been released into the custody of her parents
A 16-year-old female suspect appeared in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, October 26, for child stealing.
This after six-week-old baby girl Seluleko was taken from her mother at a shopping centre in the CBD the previous day (Tuesday, October 25).
The mother was shopping in the CBD area when she was approached by a young girl who showed interest in her baby. After spending some time talking, the mother believed the young girl to be trustworthy.
The girl convinced the mother to let her play with the baby while she finished her shopping. By the time she got back to them, the girl and the baby were gone.
The mother frantically searched around the centre, but could not find them. The distraught mother quickly made her way to Ladysmith police station, where two officers on duty immediately sprung into action. They viewed video footage at the centre, as well as footage from the local Public Safety camera system.
The police officers interviewed people at the taxi rank and established that the suspect had boarded a taxi to Ezakheni E-Section. The officers rushed to the area and sourced more information, which led them to a house where they found the 16-year-old suspect and the baby. The baby was unharmed.
The mother couldn’t hold back tears of joy at being reunited with her baby after just over three hours, thanks to the tenacity and quick response of the police officers.
The suspect has since been released into the custody of her parents.
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Bhekinkosi Langa would like to place on record his appreciation to everyone who assisted them with valuable information that led to the speedy arrest. “We appeal to mothers not to be convinced to hand over their babies to anyone, no matter how friendly or trustworthy they may seem,” he said.
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