Must Have - Baby for Sale!?! Vancouver Police Rescue Infant Put up for Sale on Craigslist

62 year old Marilyn Bateman of Vancouver was shocked last week when while surfing the internet classified site "Craigslist" she stumbled across an ad for a "Baby for Sale".

The ad described a 7 day old baby as very cute but unexpected and in need of a good home. The price – $10 000.

Thinking it a hoax, Bateman almost did nothing, but the grandmother of 5 remained troubled by what she had seen, and that evening, after many hours of nagging doubt, decided to call the police.

She was rewarded by a late night call from the Vancouver police the next night, thanking her for her assistance, and telling her that they had taken a child into protective services.

Police tracked down the cellular number that had been placed in the ad, and as a team of 10 officers, burst in on the parents in a small apartment, finding the mother nursing the infant child. The father, who admitted to placing the ad, denied any wrongdoing and explained the ad as a joke. The cellular number given had come from a phone stolen days earlier.

Police describe the couple as "known to them" and as a couple struggling with addiction issues.

The father was taken into custody. Police recommended to the crown a charge of criminal mischief but the father was released without charge after questioning. Police are considering future charges.

Constable Fanning, of the Vancouver Police said, "The first thing out of their mouths is that they said it was just a hoax. But, of course, why was it posted in the first place with a phone number? There's so many questions here. It's very disturbing on many levels."