Niagara police are looking for a Brooklyn family after a baby was locked in a hotel safe.

The child was alert and crying, but the parents took the baby once it was freed Tuesday morning and left the hotel. Police did not know the size or age of the baby and are now looking to talk to the family.

Sgt. Scott Kraushar said cleaning staff at the Howard Johnson Hotel on Victoria Avenue were approached by family members or the child's parents in a "distraught state" and asking for assistance.

Hotel maintenance was then notified around 10:30 a.m. and a maintenance worker removed the baby from the safe.

"We'd like to believe it was an accident at this time, but again we haven't been able to speak to (the family) so we can't confirm that," said Kraushar. "But they were acting appropriately."

Hotel manager, Kevin Liddle, said he was told about the situation through other staff and instructed them to contact police.

"We as management are deeply concerned by (Tuesday's) events," he said.

In a press release, Niagara police said there was "no information on how the baby ended up locked in the safe." The family is being sought to check on the welfare of the child.

The safe was a third of metre by a third of a metre, said Kraushar, with "quite a bit of depth."

"We picture the small built-in safes but it was much larger — a floor safe," he said. "(It was) not your traditionally big enough for a wallet safe," he said, noting that the difference is significant.

The safe locks with a keypad.

Kraushar said the parents took the baby and immediately left the hotel with multiple families before the police were called. The families took up three rooms.

"Unfortunately there was a delay in contacting police, and we're not thinking that they were trying to run, they just checked out during that time."

Police were notified about an hour after the infant was found, said Kraushar.

"I believe the maintenance person, I mean in all fairness, was quite shaken up," said Kraushar, giving clarity about the time-gap of reporting the incident to police. "But, they did notify us and we've been all over it all day."

The hotel room was registered to a person from Brooklyn, NY, and the vehicle associated with the guest has a New Jersey plate. It is a 2015 Grey Ford passenger van with the plate B31EUB.

Police are working with U.S. border services to help locate the family.

"The vehicle plates have been flagged, and as of yet they haven't attempted to re-enter the U.S.," said Kraushar.

Flagging the vehicle means if they attempt to re-enter the U.S. they will be pulled aside, "to ensure the welfare of the infant."

Kraushar said there is no reason at this time to believe the infant is in danger. He said this type of event is rare and the investigation is ongoing. An investigator remains at the hotel.

The hotel is located one block from Niagara Falls. All rooms have a "large in-room safe" according to the website, and kids under 16 stay for free.

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Kraushar said the age and sex of the child, and any other details about the family are unknown.

At this point, police are not anticipating charges, he said. Anyone with information about the van to call them at 905-688-4111 x 4320.

With files from The Canadian Press and Niagara This Week