Grandmother faces court after leaving granddaughter in car

A 61-year-old Stirling grandmother has faced court after leaving her 15-month old granddaughter in a parked car in Phillip on Thursday (30 November).

ACT Policing said that at about 2:10 pm on Thursday 30 November, the woman had parked her vehicle on Botany Street, Phillip and left her asleep inside the vehicle which was parked without any shade when the outside temperature was 28 degrees Celcius.

Members of the public were concerned for the child’s safety and had tried to break the driver’s side window for about 10 minutes before a man used a tyre iron to successfully break the window and free the child.

Police said the child was in the hot vehicle for at least 20 minutes before she was removed by witnesses.

The ACT Ambulance Service attended and assessed the child, but she was unhurt.

Gloria Ivankovic was charged with neglecting and exposing a child, and bailed to re-appear on 19 December.

Police said that according to ‘Kidsafe’ the temperature inside a parked car during the Australian summer can be 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the outside temperature and within five minutes, the temperature in the car can double.

Police are urging the man who broke the vehicle window, or anyone who has any information which could assist, to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.