Police charge W. Oak Lane woman with lying to them

A 28-year-old woman has been charged with falsely reporting that her 9-year-old son was in her car when it was stolen from her street in West Oak Lane, police said yesterday.

The child was instead at a relative's home when the report was made Tuesday, and the mother knew that, police said.

Lorraine Hunt, of the 2100 block of Walnut Lane, was arrested Tuesday and charged with making a false report and other offenses. Hunt had told police that her green Mercury Marquis with her son inside had been stolen Tuesday afternoon when she went inside to get something and left the engine running.

Police launched a major search and were about to issue an Amber Alert when they learned the truth, officials said. - Joseph A. Gambardello