The Charity Crimestoppers, a UK charity organisation, has offered a reward of $24,000 for anyone who could provide information to the Metropolitan Police on the identity of the parents of the abandoned babies who were abandoned and found in similar circumstances in 2017, 2019 and 2024.

The youngest of these babies, named Elsa by the authorities, was discovered on Thursday, 18 January 2024, when a member of the public reported to the police that they had found a newborn baby wrapped in a towel in a shopping bag abandoned close to the junction of Greenway and High Street South, E6.

Although these babies were found in similar circumstances seven years apart, an investigation by the Police has revealed that they are siblings.

“Enquiries by the Met’s Child Abuse Investigation Team revealed that Elsa was biologically related to two other babies, who had also been located in similar circumstances nearby in 2017 and 2019,” a statement by the Metropolitan Police read in part.

Since this discovery was made, the police have begun searching for the parents of the abandoned babies. This search has, however, been futile.

“We have carried out extensive enquiries over the past year to try and locate Elsa’s parents,” said Detective Inspector Jamie Humm of the Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Humm added that his team had reviewed over 450 hours of CCTV footage and completed a full DNA structure of the mother. There were also speculations that the mother and father of the abandoned babies have been residing in the Plaistow or East Ham area over the past six years.

“We have serious concerns for the well-being of the parents, especially the mother and are continuing to work closely with Newham Council and appeal for the public’s help for information.

“I believe that someone in the area will have been aware of the mother’s pregnancies and that within the community, there may have been concerns for this mother’s welfare. I share these concerns with you, so if you have any information, no matter how small it may seem, please contact us.

“Thanks to the DNA work of forensic colleagues, police will be able to eliminate any unconnected person quickly and easily, as such I would ask you to contact police with confidence.”

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