Mom hears screaming in call from daughter’s cellphone; daughter was at movie

VICTORIA – When a woman in Victoria got a call from her daughter’s cellphone and heard terrified screams, she immediately dialled 911.

It turned out the daughter was at a horror movie and had inadvertently called her mother.

But police say they were forced to check on the daughter to make sure she was okay.

Victoria 911 officials say this is just one of many examples of cellphone “pocket dialling” and abandoned emergency calls.

They say since Jan. 1, emergency operators in the Victoria area have received 828 calls to 911 with no one on the other end of the line, but staff have to follow up on every call, something they say is a major drain on police resources.