Cops Rescue Doll from Locked Car

by jordan | July 17, 2008 at 08:59 am | 1131 views | 16 comments

Australian cops smashed out a car window to rescue what they thought was an unconscious infant, only to find that they had liberated a very lifelike doll.

The article below describes the incident as "embarrassing", but I'm on the cops' side here... that thing looks real. Creepily real.

The embarrassing mistake, made in regional Gympie, is not an isolated incident and passionate creator of the "reborn" baby dolls Vynette Cernik knows just how easily they can be mistaken for the real thing.

Ms Cernik said last week's case of mistaken identity mirrored a similar incident in the US when the window of a new Hummer was broken by police trying to rescue a "baby" that turned out to be a doll belonging to the owner's wife.

Selling for up to $1000, the painstakingly hand-painted dolls were so lifelike with eyelashes, fingernails, milk spots and wispy hair that they were constantly fooling people, Ms Cernik said.

"They're even weighted to feel like a baby's weight and they flop like a baby," she said.

The dolls can even come with umbilical cords, cord clamps and their own birth certificates.

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René

at 11:54 on July 17th, 2008

Did they pay for the broken windows?

Heiky

at 12:31 on July 17th, 2008

Oh my goodness! I just checked out the videos and they look so real.

Caoimhin1

at 13:57 on July 17th, 2008

good stuff:

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Karen Hatter

at 14:59 on July 17th, 2008

good stuff:

Well, their concern for the believed to be infant in peril was admirable!

lisam3

at 19:26 on July 17th, 2008

good stuff:

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff. The video sure looks like a real baby.

jayr_patron

at 01:30 on July 18th, 2008

good stuff:

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Paschen

at 04:56 on July 18th, 2008

good stuff:

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I second you introduction here Jordan, the Cops did the right thing, regardless of what the press may want to portray it to be!

Put the Doll in a box next time! Or better, make Dolls look like dolls and not Humans!!

jordan

at 05:39 on July 18th, 2008

Thanks for the flags, guys and gals. Indeed, that doll footage is freaking me out a bit.

c_beerbower

at 06:35 on July 18th, 2008

I started reborning because I have always had a fascination with dolls. My favorite are the ones that look so real you think that they are going the blink their eyes or you can hear them breathing. Bringing these dolls to life through the painting, rooting of the hair, assembly and dressing is exciting! To have a reborn doll mistaken as a real baby is an honor.

c_beerbower has contributed a photo to this story.

Beautiful Babys Nursery

at 07:48 on July 18th, 2008

The whole idea of baby art is to make the reborn doll look as realistic as possible. Fooling people into thinking they are real is the ultimate compliment on our work. I have been "reborning" since 2002 and it is my passion. I love doing this work.

Beautiful Babys Nursery has contributed a photo to this story.

reborntreasures

at 16:08 on July 18th, 2008

Welcome to the world of reborns where dolls are brought to the edge of realism.. Since these dolls do look so real we should be aware that leaving one in a vehicle alone would alarm any passer by. Always cover them up or put them out of sight on the floor. I can't imagine the fright that must have caused everyone.

Thalye & Moi

at 09:56 on July 18th, 2008

good stuff:

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

celticsong22

at 06:57 on July 19th, 2008

Thanks for inviting my photos! I discovered reborns on Ebay, and couldn't believe how realistic they were. I bought the two pictured in my photos as a "tribute" to my Mom for Christmas two years ago because they looked so much like I did as an infant.

The scary thing about reborns is that they can appear like an unconscious or DEAD baby, because they look so real, but they aren't moving or breathing. I did a photo shoot for a funeral director a while back, and when he saw my reborn pics, he commented that they looked like a dead baby! I just thought they looked real, but he said, "trust me, I've seen enough of them to know." Consequently, I won't be using my reborn shots for advertising anymore! LOL! I still find them remarkably lifelike, and really respect the care and work that the artists did to make them appear like a real baby.

c_beerbower

at 07:40 on July 19th, 2008

good stuff:

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

ronalyn2007

at 15:38 on July 23rd, 2008

I have been creating Reborn dolls for several years. I've heard pros and cons about Reborning but,overwhelmingly, the reactions are favorable. I make both collectible Reborns and child-safe Reborns. I see nothing wrong with wanting to have a doll that is as lifelike as possible. However, while I have nothing against it, I don't make dolls that "breathe" or make noise of any kind.

I am careful when I am transporting my Reborns in my car. If I leave them for any reason, I always cover them with something so no one will break in trying to "save a baby". I actually made a sign that said, "This is a DOLL, not a baby". However, I found it easier just to cover them up.

ronalyn2007 has contributed a photo to this story.

lucianamottola

at 15:47 on July 25th, 2008

Good to see my baby pictures on this article!!

lucianamottola has contributed a photo to this story.