Infant left in vehicle while family dines at Saanich restaurant

Saanich Police have confirmed they were called after a 4-month-old was left unattended inside of a vehicle this week.

The incident occurred at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, in the Broadmead Village parking lot.

A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Victoria Buzz a group of people were in a coffee shop when a person came in searching for the child’s parents.

Someone from the coffee shop called police immediately and stayed with the infant until police arrived.

Saanich Police confirmed they responded to a report of an infant left alone in a car in the 700 block of Royal Oak Drive.

“Our officers attended and located the child who was in healthy condition. The parents were located, and the Ministry of Children and Family Development were notified,” said a spokesperson with Saanich Police.

Police declined to release any further information.

A person at the scene told Victoria Buzz the family, including the parents, grandmother and two other children were having dinner in one of the restaurants at the plaza.

“It was over an hour and a half before they returned to the vehicle,” the anonymous source said.

In British Columbia, neglecting a child can lead to serious legal consequences. Criminal charges such as child abandonment or endangerment can result in fines, probation, or imprisonment.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development may also intervene, potentially removing the child from the home, issuing supervision orders, or granting permanent custody to the ministry.