The naked body of a newborn baby boy was found inside a plastic bag in a rubbish bin at a unit block in Auburn, in Sydney's west, after a resident made the discovery while taking out the rubbish on Monday morning. Police believe the infant may have been in the bin for up to 36 hours, and an investigation is now underway to determine how and when he died, while a search continues for his mother.

Detective Acting Superintendent Darren Sly said the discovery was traumatic for the resident who found the baby and stressed that police's primary concern is locating the mother and ensuring she receives urgent medical care, rather than any potential police action. Officers spent Monday door-knocking nearby units and reviewing CCTV footage, and a tent was erected to shield the scene, located opposite a school, from public view. The find has shaken the local community, with Cumberland Mayor Ola Hamed urging residents to check on one another, and police have appealed for anyone with information or relevant dashcam or phone footage to contact Auburn Police or Crime Stoppers.