Four young people in Quebec are being hailed as heroes after they helped find a baby stolen from a hospital in Trois-Rivieres a day after she was born.
Police had issued an alert on Monday night with a photo of the suspect, who was dressed as a nurse.
The four friends were already searching for the baby when one saw the photo on social media and recognised the woman.
They went to the suspect's home and called police when they saw the car described in the alert.
Quebec police said the suspect, a woman in her 20s, was in police custody in hospital. The baby was returned to her parents within three hours of the alert.
The baby's mother and father, Melissa McMahon and Simon Boisclair, posted a Facebook photo and message on Tuesday thanking police officials, media and anyone who shared the photo for helping find their child.
Ms McMahon praised "four marvellous people, whom we had the chance to meet, [who] identified this woman thanks to Facebook".
The woman, dressed in red hospital scrubs, allegedly took the child saying she needed to weigh her.
She then drove away in a Toyota Yaris with a "Baby on Board" sign, police say.
Ms McMahon said in her Facebook post she tried to chase after the woman when she realised she was not a nurse
"The powerlessness we felt in this situation was difficult to accept... to no longer have her in my arms after barely 16 hours of life was unreal."
Melizanne Bergeron, her sister Sharelle Bergeron, Marc-Andre Cote and Charlene Plante decided to start looking for the child when they first heard she had been stolen from a hospital in Trois-Rivieres
They were already in their vehicle when they saw the suspect's photo and description.
Ms Plante told broadcaster CTV she recognised the woman as a previous neighbour.
"I know her because the police came sometimes," she said.
When they arrived at the residence, they saw the vehicle listed in the alert and called police.
Ms Bergeron told reporters police arrived quickly and broke down the woman's door.
"Thirty seconds after, the baby was in the hands of the police,'' she said. "It was the best moment in my life. We were crying." culled*Thief!!!!........if you want a baby go and make yours!
Yes o, go n get urs if u want. #God tinz like should never happen 2 any1 on ds blog, my frds, family n neighbours. Amen
ReplyDeleteMrs Davido
People get mind o, thank God she was caught. Oloshi. Btw pipi darling,hw wld u like Quebec city as one of our honey moon destinations,we can start making our own babies from there #ilovepipilee
ReplyDeleteI notice say you no dey express this your love under pipi lee comments as often as you should! Na e bi say the love never strong! Try to dey comment under her
Deletecomments u hear!
Pepper ose oku!
Pepper,pepper you too much. As wande coal talk, i go begin follow her comments bumper to bumper till she don luv me. #ilovepipilee
DeleteNa so God go dey catch dem
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh. Dis woman wicked o,person don carry pickin for 9months finish,come push born am then one idiot come tiff am. God will punish u o madam,abeg mk she rot for dat prison o
ReplyDeleteGod don catch am already na.
DeleteThk u Jesus........everytinz is thiefable hahah.isokay.
ReplyDeleteLol. U dey vex oh Stella. Na really go and make urs.
ReplyDeleteWonder wat she wanted d baby for
Madam fake nurse,if u are in need of a baby,why not get pregnant & have us,,,na wa oo
ReplyDeleteSo if nobi facebook the pikin for don enter breeze....
ReplyDelete.
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Thank God.
ReplyDeleteThak God the baby is found
ReplyDeleteThat woman is not stable at all
Hw can u steal someone's child
Thank God. .
ReplyDeleteOnly God knows for how long she has been monitoring the hospital.