TODDLER RESCUED FROM CAR

A TODDLER was trapped inside a locked car yesterday as temperatures soared past 40C in parts of Melbourne.

The 20-month-old boy was rescued when firefighters forced their way into the car parked outside Derrimut Village Shopping Centre shortly after 11am yesterday.

The boy was freed uninjured. He was one of a large number of children rescued from hot cars since the start of summer.

Police have recorded dozens of offences involving kids left in unattended vehicles in the past 12 months.

Crime Statistics Agency data shows 54 cases were recorded across Victoria in the year to September 2018.

The majority of cases resulted in arrests or summons (47) and three offenders were let off with a caution or warning.

However many incidents, are never reported to police.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said no offence had occurred yesterday as the child had been “accidentally” locked in the car with the airconditioning on.

Authorities warned of the dangers of locking kids in cars with the State Government vowing to crackdown on the potentially-fatal behaviour.

The caution comes as Melbourne enters its second day of a near week-long heatwave.