Girl Believed To Be Missing Was Found Safe And Well Sleeping In A Suit Case
Updated : Jun 25, 2009
A little girl whose disappearance sparked a huge police search on Tuesday was found two hours later sleeping inside a suitcase at her home.
Muumbe Hapenga's father phoned the emergency services after a frantic and fruitless search for the child in their home in Leicester the Herald reports.
Police cars and helicopters were deployed and neighbours, friends and off-duty officers joined the effort to find her, scouring streets and gardens for the three-year-old.
Then at 4pm, after searching the family home for a second time, police officers found the youngster asleep under clothes inside a large suitcase.
Her father, Austen Hapenga (39), a mental health nurse said: “I checked the house two or three times and I even looked in the suitcase, but she had buried herself under the clothes.
“I was really scared when I couldn't find her. I kept thinking about all the things that have happened to children and it made me terrified.â€
In a statement, Leicestershire Police confirmed that they received a report at 1.54pm of a missing three-year-old girl.
The force said: “The girl was reported missing from her home address by a family member.
“Officers attended the scene and made a search of house.
“The girl was later found safe and well,†said a spokesperson.
