A woman has been charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child after a toddler was located in a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment this afternoon, August 3.
Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, acting field crime manager of Waitematā Police, says police were called at 12.50pm after a passenger asked for access to the luggage compartment during a planned stop in Kaiwaka.
“The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving.
“When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl.
“The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed.
“She was transported to hospital, where she remains, undergoing an extensive medical assessment.”
Harrison says a 27-year-old woman was arrested and has been charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child.
She’s scheduled to appear in North Shore District Court tomorrow, August 4.
“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” Harrison says.
“Police enquiries into this incident are ongoing and further charges cannot be ruled out.
“Oranga Tamariki has also been notified.”
