In short:
Police launch a criminal investigation after a man allegedly leaves three children alone in a car overnight in Queensland’s south-east.
The 27-year-old man, who is known to the children, is in custody charged with child cruelty offences.
What’s next?
Police are hoping to speak with the children as part of their investigation into what happened.
A man has been charged after allegedly leaving three young children alone in a car overnight in South-East Queensland.
Police say the children — a three-year-old girl and boys aged five and six — were found at a service station in Mount Warren Park, south of Brisbane, about 7am.
Acting Detecting Superintendent Mark White said the children were reported missing after police were called to a disturbance at a Slacks Creek address about 10pm on Sunday where a 27-year-old man from Paradise Point on the Gold Coast was arrested.
“Subsequently from that disturbance at Slacks Creek … the issue of the location of the children was raised,” Acting Detecting Superintendent Mark White said.
“The information we have is that [the children] have been in [a] vehicle overnight by themselves,” he said.
Police will allege the man failed to provide reasonable provision for the supervision and care for three children known to him.
He has been charged with three counts each of cruelty to children under 16 years and leaving a child under 12 unattended.
Mother, police ‘very relieved’
The 27-year-old man is due to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
“We will be conducting a further criminal investigation as to why those children were in a car by themselves,” Detective Acting Superintendent White said.
“You can’t leave children unattended, especially children of that age.
“That’s going to be the core focus of our investigation going forward.”
He said the children’s mother was “very, very relieved” they were found safe.
“Having been in the police for as long as I have in this area, you do get really concerned and we’re all relieved all three of them are safe because they are very young.
“We’ve been liaising with her from the time we became aware of this and providing her with as much support as we possibly can.”
Investigating officers are still appealing for information about the blue Hyundai hatchback’s movements between the Gold Coast and Logan yesterday.
Anyone who saw the vehicle with the Queensland registration 205 SKW between 4:30pm Sunday and 7am on Monday is urged to contact police.
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