Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Were we being unreasonable to call security?

40 replies

2kidsintow · 18/10/2013 18:08

At a local retail park, we came out of a shop to see a car left unattended with 2 sleeping toddlers (approx 1 and 3) in the car seats.

I felt uncomfortable leaving once I'd noticed it and thought that most likely the parent would be in one of the 3 shops on the corner where the car was parked, that they'd have popped in for a quick minute and would be out soon to their car.

So we waited, standing off to one side so we weren't too conspicuous, so that we would have peace of mind once all was well and could then leave.

And we waited..... and waited.

After ten minutes it became clear that the parent hadn't just popped somewhere for a quick minute. We found the phone number of the retail park and my friend called them. They sent a security guard over straight away. By the time he arrived at the vehicle it was another few minutes, so it was a clear quarter of an hour that they'd been in the car - and we hadn't noticed them arrive so it could have been a bit longer.

The security guard thanked us and told us that he'd give it another 5 minutes, then call the police.

We went on to another shop, spent another 10 minutes in there and when we came out the guard was still waiting by the car, no parent in sight. That meant half an hour or more unattended at that point.

WWBU?

OP posts:
Andro · 18/10/2013 18:10

Absolutely NOT unreasonable OP, you did the right thing.

LaurieFairyCake · 18/10/2013 18:11

I know it bothers others

Doesn't bother me , likely the parent knew they would sleep.

TEErickOrTEEreat · 18/10/2013 18:11

Not at all. I would have called as well. Those poor children.

Dawndonnaagain · 18/10/2013 18:11

Definitely the right thing. I hope they're okay.

Lj8893 · 18/10/2013 18:17

You wernt unreasonable to phone security. But I think you already know that.

But why would you think you were unreasonable?

absentmindeddooooodles · 18/10/2013 18:18

You definatley did the right thing. Bloody hell anuthing could have happenes. Im not talking the usual stuff you get on here like...the car could have spontaniously combusted.... there could have been freak tornado type thing.

What if there was anyone dodgy aroind. It would take 10 secs to smash the window and grab the kids.

Also, what if one threw up.....when strapped into the carseat that can become a major chocking hazard.

Just not worth the risk. Ever.

Sirzy · 18/10/2013 18:19

I would have phoned the police myself.

You certainly weren't being unreasonable.

TEErickOrTEEreat · 18/10/2013 18:25

"What if there was anyone dodgy aroind. It would take 10 secs to smash the window and grab the kids."

That's just as absurd as a tornado or spontaneous combustion. Don't be daft.

Your point about puke, however, is valid.

conkercon · 18/10/2013 18:25

Absolutely the right thing to do. I can not believe anyone would think it okay to leave 2 toddlers for so long regardless of them being asleep.

ILetHimKeep20Quid · 18/10/2013 18:26

Totally not unreasonable.

This isn't 2 minutes whilst you pay for petrol.

Original poster
2kidsintow · 18/10/2013 18:27

Lj8893, in my heart I know it wasn't unreasonable. But then I didn't choose to go into the closest shops to ask whose car it was as I was aware that it could have earned me an earful from the owner for interfering if they'd been found.

The older one kept stirring and looked like they were going to wake up. Luckily he kept settling again as it would have been horrible for him to wake up and find he'd been left.

OP posts:
kinkyfuckery · 18/10/2013 18:27

Totally reasonable.

Did you find out the outcome?

VerySmallSqueak · 18/10/2013 18:29

How terrifying for one of the children if they woke up and the parent wasn't there for such a long time.

You weren't being unreasonable - I think I would have chosen to watch and observe till they came back,and intervene if necessary (ie one woke up).
But you have to have the time to do that!

rainbowfeet · 18/10/2013 18:31

You did the right thing.. Well done! Smile

CackleCackle · 18/10/2013 18:32

YWDNBU.

I have no more to say on the matter.

ChristmasPixie123 · 18/10/2013 18:34

You did the right thing. I would of called the police personally but you called security and didn't leave them - that is more than good enough. I hope the police did get called by the security guard.

ocelot41 · 18/10/2013 18:34

Totally reasonable. what VerySmallSqueak said.

BoffinMum · 18/10/2013 18:35

No, I am very gung ho about this sort of thing but you did exactly the right thing. The parent may have had some sort of accident or something, and it would be vital that someone else knew that the children were there. Well done.

BoffinMum · 18/10/2013 18:36

Never worry about an earful from parents if you know you have done the right thing. Sticks and stones. I would have waited 5 or 10 minutes and then alerted security.

LunaticFringe · 18/10/2013 18:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VerySmallSqueak · 18/10/2013 18:39

That's a very good point Boffin.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 18/10/2013 18:40

YWNBU. I'm actually not that fussed about people leaving children in cars at cash points etc, but I would have contacted someone about this. It could have been the case that the parent meant to leave them for two minutes and then fainted or something. Hope they were all ok

Latara · 18/10/2013 18:43

YANBU, I once did the same thing (called security to an unattended child in a car in the middle of a car park that is).

absentmindeddooooodles · 18/10/2013 18:47

Two months ago three childeren were left in a car in a local supermarker car paek 2 miles away from me.

Two men smashed the windows and tried to gwt the children out. Luckily a securitu guard was watching on cctv and with the help of passers by managed to get to the two men before they took the children.

It can happen. It is not crazy. Im not saying its likely at all.....but why the hell would you even risk that 0.1%????

TEErickOrTEEreat · 18/10/2013 18:47

That's horrible LF.