OPP: Child "mistakenly" taken from woman in parking lot
A mother was shocked last week when someone walked away with a shopping cart containing her child.
But police have characterized the incident, which took place on Aug. 9 in the parking lot of the Mount Forest No Frills, as a mistake that may have been fuelled by alcohol consumption.
Wellington County OPP responded to the grocery store at about 4:25pm after receiving a complaint from a customer.
“The complainant advised that while she was putting her one child into her vehicle ... an unknown male came and took her grocery cart that held her other child ... and started walking away,” police stated in a press release.
The woman was able to get her child and cart back and the man left in a vehicle with three other people.
OPP officials, who are investigating the incident, say “there is no threat to public safety” as this was “an isolated incident.”
They added they will be speaking with the man, who has been identified, as well as his companions.
“It is believed that alcohol played a role in the male mistakenly taking the cart not realizing that the child’s mother was right there,” police stated.
Anyone with information about this incident should call the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.csgw.tips.
