Missing 4-year-old boy in Metro Vancouver found safe: RCMP

An RCMP epaulette is seen in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Police in Metro Vancouver say a four-year-old boy who was the subject of a missing-person report last week has been found safe.

The Langley RCMP issued a public plea for information in the disappearance on Monday, saying the boy was believed to be with his mother after the pair were last seen together on July 15.

In an update late Monday afternoon, the RCMP said the boy had been located. “The RCMP thanks the media and public for their assistance,” the bulletin said.

While some child-abduction cases prompt authorities to activate the Amber Alert system, the RCMP said this case did not meet the threshold for immediate public notification.

“Amber Alert is intended only for the most serious, time-critical, child abduction cases,” Sgt. Zynal Sharoom wrote in an emailed statement to CTV News.

“It is not intended for cases involving parental abductions, except in life-threatening situations.”

Before an alert is issued, the RCMP says all of the following criteria must be met:

• The victim is under 18
• Police have reasonable grounds to believe the victim has been abducted
• Authorities have reasonable grounds to believe the victim is in imminent danger
• Police have obtained enough descriptive information about the victim, abductor and/or the vehicle involved
• The alert can be issued in a timeframe that will provide a reasonable expectation that the child can be returned or the abductor apprehended