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Literally infant
abductions are abductions of infants in the age group of
0-6 months by non-family members. There is a growing
concern about this issue in the recent past. Studies
show a steady rise in such abductions, this rise in
number can be attributed to a growth in the reporting of
such cases by the parents and hospital authorities.
In infant
abductions, in most cases the motivation for the offence
cannot be ascertained, as the abducted child is an
infant common motivation such as profit, ransom,
revenge, power etc, can be ruled out. Recent research
into some case studies reveals that a primary motive in
such offence can be the need to have a child to fill a
perceived void in the offender's life.
Motivation is
most reliably determined after the case is solved. It is
possible that some of the 9 infants included in a study
sample who are still missing were not recovered.
Infant
abductions are not specific to any geographical area or
demographic location. Reports state that infants have
been stolen from single mothers, from 2-parent families,
and in hospitals while residing as "boarder babies" who
nobody had claimed.
A review of the
119 reported cases identified the areas from which the
children were taken
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Hospitals: including
the mother's room, pediatric rooms, and nurseries.
Abductions have also occurred at other sites on or in
close proximity to the hospital grounds.
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Homes: including the
interior of the home as well as areas in which a
parent was present.
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Other places: such as
malls, shopping centers, cars, etc.
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