Three-Year-Old Girl Left Alone in Locked German Daycare After Staff Depart
Police and local authorities are investigating an incident in Hennigsdorf where a toddler was accidentally left behind by day-care workers before closing time.
A three-year-old girl was left entirely alone inside a locked day-care facility in Hennigsdorf, located northwest of Berlin, after staff members mistakenly closed up early and departed. According to police reports, the incident occurred on October 22 when the child's mother arrived to pick up her daughter during regular operating hours.
Upon arrival at approximately 4:45 PM, the mother found the facility doors locked and deserted. She soon spotted her daughter playing on a climbing structure inside the enclosed outdoor yard, completely unattended by any daycare personnel. The facility was officially scheduled to remain open until 5:00 PM.
A construction worker from an adjacent worksite noticed the situation and stepped in to help. He accessed the property through a gap in the fence and stayed with the little girl until her mother arrived. A spokesperson for the police directorate north stated that the child was likely left alone for less than half an hour and noted that the situation ended fortunately.
Authorities are still working to determine how the staff managed to overlook the toddler. Initial indications suggest that the employees mistakenly believed all children had already been collected by their parents. Investigators are also considering other possibilities, with the police spokesperson questioning whether the child might have playfully hidden or sat behind a piece of playground equipment.
Following the alarming discovery, the mother filed a formal police report. Law enforcement is currently investigating the staff members for a potential violation of their duty of care. Additionally, the municipal government, which operates the facility in a Hennigsdorf district, has launched its own internal review of the case.
Local records show that this is not the first time the facility has faced scrutiny. Between 2019 and 2023, former employees at the same location were accused of endangering the welfare of children, a legal matter that previously resulted in court proceedings.