POLICE called to reports of a baby left in a car smashed a window — only to discover it was a doll.
Amy McQuillen, 36, and daughter Darci, ten, had gone shopping when the youngster got sick of carrying Elliott, her highly-realistic “reborn” doll.
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Police smashed a car window in a bid to save a baby only to discover it was a DOLL Credit: ？Terry Blackburn 4
Mum Amy McQuillen, 36, and daughter Darci, 10, had gone shopping when the youngster got sick of carrying her highly-realistic 'reborn' doll Credit: ？Terry Blackburn
She put him in a booster seat in the family’s Nissan Qashqai while they popped to another shop. When they returned 15 minutes later Amy was shocked to see a crowd, two uniformed officers and a shattered front passenger window.
The mum of four said the cops told her they were investigating a report of child neglect. She replied: “I’ve got my daughter with me.”
Amy said: “They then said a newborn baby had been left in the car so I said: ‘It’s a doll!’ I couldn’t believe it. I know the dolls are realistic but I didn’t think anything like this would ever happen.”
Darci got Elliott as a ￡60 Christmas gift and was visiting Asda to buy him clothes and nappies. Married healthcare assistant Amy, of Thornaby, Teesside, added: “I didn’t see Darci had placed Elliott in the booster seat and put the belt on him. Even if I had I wouldn’t have thought anything of it.？.？.she was just playing.
“The officers later explained that someone had called them to say they had seen the baby moving, but then it had stopped moving and they couldn’t see it breathing. I’ve no idea what that was all about as it’s a doll.
"I do understand that the police have got to act when they get a call like this — as a mother I’d be angry if they didn’t. But it was humiliating for me in front of lots of people, and I was left with a broken window and upset daughter.
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“The officers were apologetic once it was all cleared up and they went to check my daughter was OK.”
Cleveland Police are paying the ￡264 bill to repair Amy’s window.
A spokeswoman said: “On this occasion it was not what it seemed but it was reported with the best intentions. Officers would always rather establish a crime has not occurred than miss an opportunity to safeguard a child.”
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The doll was put in a booster, but when Amy returned she saw a crowd, two uniformed officers and a shattered front passenger window Credit: ？Terry Blackburn 4
Amy said: 'It was humiliating for me in front of lots of people, and I was left with a broken window and upset daughter' Credit: ？Terry Blackburn
I'm a self-confessed bad parent and other mums don't want to be friends with me - I have no problem telling their kids what I really think of them