West Midlands Police break into car fearing doll is baby
- Published
The "baby" was spotted in the car with its face covered
Two police officers broke into a car to rescue what they thought was an abandoned baby, only to discover it was a doll.
The "extremely lifelike" toy was wrapped in a blanket with its face and arms covered, causing the pair to fear a new mother had left her baby inside.
The officers smashed a rear window after being called to the car park of Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley.
West Midlands Police said it would pay for the damage.
Ch Insp Phil Dolby said the doll was wrapped in a "kiddies' blanket" with only the top of its head exposed.
He said the officers involved "did the right thing" when faced with what they genuinely believed was a baby, alone and critically ill in a locked car on the hospital's car park".
"The colouration of the head appeared discoloured giving the highly experienced officers additional cause for alarm," he said.
Ch Insp Dolby apologised to the car owner following the incident on 14 September.
He said he hoped the owner of the blue Vauxhall Corsa, who police attempted to trace before breaking in, agreed the officers took the correct course of action.