Cops investigating after baby locked in car
Police get closer to the truth on locked baby in car incident on Wednesday
Police are investigating after a baby was found inside a locked vehicle at Lynnwood Bridge shopping centre, east of Pretoria, on Wednesday.
Garsfontein police spokesperson Warrant Officer Dave Miller said police were probing possible negligence.
Shoppers spotted the baby inside the locked a vehicle in the undercover parking area of the centre.
“We are currently attempting to track down the mother, and when we do, she will be brought in for questioning,” Miller said.
He said the mother would be interviewed. Depending on the outcome, the matter would be handed to child services.
“We are in contact with officials from child protection agencies and we are confident that they will bring much-needed expertise into this matter.”
He said police were following every lead.
Childline director Lynn Cawood said the law did not outline leaving a child in a car as a criminal offence, but locking a baby in a car without supervision amounted to negligence.
“A number of things could happen to the baby,” Cawood said.
The infant or toddler in this case could suffocate or die from heat stroke while inside the vehicle. The car could also be stolen with the child inside.
Cawood advised anyone noticing a baby locked in a vehicle to call child line or call 10 111.
“Never leave a child alone in a vehicle as this does constitute negligence.”
Shopper Adriaan Adams has posted a picture of the baby inside the locked vehicle and its registration number on social media.
He appealed to readers to notify the mother after he had been waiting for more than 10 minutes near the car.
Adams said as he was coming down an escalator when he saw the child locked up.
He said he first assumed the parent or driver had only stepped out of the vehicle to pay for parking.
“We waited not far from the vehicle to make sure the driver does return before we left.”
Adams said he was not sure how long the baby was in the car for.
He said after about 10 minutes there was still no sign of anyone returning to the car and he notified a security guard, who called his superior.
“As people were gathering around the car, the mother arrived.”
Asked why she left her baby alone, the mother told Adams: “I had no other option.”
She threw her shopping bags into the car and drove off.
“What concerns me the most is that anyone could have stolen the baby while the mother was in the mall shopping,” Adams said.
Many social media users have expressed outrage.
“How can a mother treat her child like this when there are couples out there desperate for a child, but cannot have children,” asked Kirsti-Lee Howe.
Tanya Mattstadt said: “There is no safe amount of time to leave children alone in the car according to Nathan Allen, MD, and emergency medicine doctor at the University of Chicago. Mattstadts said Children are more susceptible and at higher risk for heat-related illness and injury than adults because their bodies make more heat relative to their size and their abilities to cool off through sweating are not as developed as adults.”
A heatwave was reported to hit Pretoria later in the week, the SA Weather Service warned on Tuesday.
Forecaster Victoria Nurse said the maximum temperature would reach a high of 37°C on Friday and remain at this level until Monday.
Wednesday and Thursday would see a maximum of 34°C.
Numerous attempt were made to the Lynwood Bridge centre brand representative with no response.
Rekord appeals to the mother to offer her side of the story. Please email to editorial@rekord.co.za or call 012-842-0300.
Also read:
Mother leaves toddler in sealed locked car
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