Police on the Danish island of Funen called off a search for a missing girl Thursday evening. The alert began when a witness reported seeing a child enter a van in Glamsbjerg.
Officers responded with multiple patrol cars, drones, and a helicopter. The witness believed the girl did not know the van's driver and contacted authorities.
Police later confirmed the situation was harmless. The child had been picked up by a relative in the vehicle.
She appeared confused because she did not recognize the relative immediately. Officers praised the witness for acting correctly in the situation.
Police thanked local residents for their assistance during the operation. The incident ended without any criminal activity occurring.
Why did this routine pickup trigger such a large police response? The witness followed standard safety protocols when seeing a child enter an unfamiliar vehicle. This case shows how public vigilance can sometimes lead to false alarms, but authorities still encourage reporting genuine concerns.
Danish police regularly conduct such operations across the country's islands. Funen is Denmark's second-largest island, located between the mainland and Zealand.