Police Issue Reminder on Leaving Children or Animals in Unattended Vehicles

On Tuesday afternoon police officers responded to a report that a young child had been locked in a vehicle outside a business in West Bay. Officers attended the location and spoke to the parent, who requested assistance to gain access to the vehicle. The officers gained access by breaking one of the windows, and the parent was able to retrieve the child, who appeared to be in good health.

While this incident appears to have occurred due to a mechanical failure of the vehicle, the RCIPS is taking this opportunity to remind parents and caretakers of children, and pets, to avoid leaving them in vehicles unattended, even for very short amounts of time.

One way to ensure they are not forgotten, is to keep an item that will be needed at the destination, such as a phone, wallet or purse, in the back seat next to them. This will serve as a reminder, especially if you are not following your usual routine.

While it may seem safe to leave children or pets in a vehicle with the AC running, there are always unforeseen circumstances which may occur, so it is best to avoid the risks altogether.