Newark's University Hospital Revamps Security after Infant Kidnappings

Newark, N.J.'s University Hospital was the location of two infant kidnappings in June according to a report by The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger.

Both of the incidents saw recent mothers attempt to snatch their children and exit the hospital, but in both incidents, police were able to locate the mothers and recover the children. According to reports in the paper, both incidents involved issues of parental rights to the children.

The hospital did not have infant abduction alarms, but since the incidents on June 10 and 17, 2005, the hospital has located funding for an alarm system to monitor the infants. The new security system, which The Star-Ledger reports will cost approximately $800,000, will set off alarms and shut down the elevator if the child is removed from the secured area of the hospital. According to the paper's report, the hospital currently uses a magnetic card-swipe system for access to the infant area, where nurses can also "buzz in" visitors.

See the Star-Ledger's full article: click here.