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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Stuck in the car park AIBU?

369 replies

CindersCatsSister · 15/05/2021 10:19

Well this is annoying. Just got out of my car at the car park in the (small) town centre and noticed in the car next to me a child, looks to be about 4 or 5, by themselves. Quite happily reading a book but all alone. I thought oh I’ll just hang on here until his parent gets back but it’s been 15 fucking mins now and I’ve got shit to do. But I want to keep an eye on him in case (of what, I don’t know). Am I being (too much of) a busybody?

OP posts:
TheQueef · 15/05/2021 10:20

15mins is too long.
Any PCSO around?

LouiseTrees · 15/05/2021 10:21

Hmm that’s quite young. Is the car visible from the window of a shop? Is it possible the parent is glancing out while waiting in a queue and you could identify them and go in to see if they’d return to the car. Otherwise yeh I’d probably wait and say who if anyone turns up

user1471528245 · 15/05/2021 10:21

Call the police, have the parents never heard if Madeline McCann

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 15/05/2021 10:23

This would 100% be a 101 call for me. If it's been a quarter of an hour since you noticed, who knows how long the little one had been there before you did? Anything could happen.

Shoxfordian · 15/05/2021 10:24

It’s not your business so go about your day

NinjaJunkie · 15/05/2021 10:26

I was often left in the car at that age with a book - preferred it to being dragged around the shops.

Told not to unlock the doors for anyone. Did as I was told.

Nothing happened

ilovesooty · 15/05/2021 10:32

@user1471528245

Call the police, have the parents never heard if Madeline McCann
It's nothing like Madeline McCann. Might be concerning, but not at all the same thing.
SmidgenofaPigeon · 15/05/2021 10:34

MM wasn’t snatched out a locked car Confused what are you on about?

I used to sit in the car rather than be bored in the shops. I’d probably just get on with my day if I were you to be honest. I thought you meant stuck like the barriers had shut you in or something.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 15/05/2021 10:36

‘Anything could happen’

Like what? A child snatcher roaming a car park looking for kiddies in locked cars, that they can take without anyone noticing?

GreyEyedWitch · 15/05/2021 10:37

You're a busybody. The child is fine.

PinkiOcelot · 15/05/2021 10:37

I’m guessing that was a while ago @NinjaJunkie?

So a 5 year old has been left in a car alone for more than 15 mins?! No one knows how long they were there before OP arrived! So from some of these responses it’s ok to leave kids alone? So it’s ok to leave them alone in the house while you nip to the shop?! I’ve seen threads on here saying the opposite!! Parallel world on here!!

NerrSnerr · 15/05/2021 10:39

I would ring 101 and let them decide whether they think anything should be done about it.

Chloemol · 15/05/2021 10:49

@Shoxfordian
@GreyEyedWitch

Usual rude MN responses

The op is concerned, as in fact any normal person would be, she has been there 15 minutes already, so no idea how long the child has been there. Who is to say the child won’t get fed up and leave the car looking for the parents? Then what could happen?

jelly79 · 15/05/2021 10:51

How is leaving a child in a car park for over 15 minutes ok?? Christ almighty. I couldn't walk on and ignore that. No way. Are they back OP?
Mid ring 101 by now like

PerpendicularVincent · 15/05/2021 10:53

@GreyEyedWitch

You're a busybody. The child is fine.
Rubbish.
Shelddd · 15/05/2021 10:54

Probably would do the same thing if it was me. Not sure if it warrants a call yet but definitely wouldn't leave and have that on my conscience.

Any chance we could get an update?

EasterEggBelly · 15/05/2021 10:55

@NerrSnerr

I would ring 101 and let them decide whether they think anything should be done about it.
Same. I couldn’t just walk away.
PerpendicularVincent · 15/05/2021 10:55

I would wait a few more minutes then ring 101 OP. The parent has then had plenty of time to get a ticket for the car park/go to the toilet/run a quick errand/insert excuse for leaving your young child, plenty of which will be provided throughout this thread.

3Britnee · 15/05/2021 10:56

The child hasn't driven the car away and run someone over in the 15 mins that op has been poking her nose in watching so I'm sure the kid is fine 🙄

MintyMabel · 15/05/2021 10:56

I’m guessing that was a while ago

When the risks were just as low as they are now.

jelly79 · 15/05/2021 10:57

@3Britnee genuine interest. How long is an acceptable amount of time to leave a 4-5 year old in a car?

AnExcellentWalker · 15/05/2021 10:57

Did the parents come back OP?

Heronwatcher · 15/05/2021 11:01

You’re totally right to be worried don’t listen to the mean spirited lot above. What if the parent has been taken ill/ run over? Or what if the child has been intentionally abandoned? I would wait for another 10 mins and then call the police. They likely won’t take any action against the parents just have a chat with them. I have left my kids in the car before but never for longer than 5 mins and observed (so I would have seen you well before now).

grantoderek · 15/05/2021 11:01

@TheQueef

15mins is too long. Any PCSO around?
Most hilariously typical MN post of the year. Not a real police officer, we are not worthy, instead look for someone with no qualifications or powers so the real ones aren't bothered. Don't go to A and E with a broken leg, ring up and speak to an unqualified moron using a computerized algorithm instead. Don't bother your GP, speak to the receptionist instead. It's like the 'real' people are sacred and mustn't be troubled. What is wrong with the UK middle classes GrinGrinGrin
HeronLanyon · 15/05/2021 11:03

I’m thinking 2 or 3 mins is fine. So that of someone is
Concerned they will see me on the way back to the car. So that if something happens I’ll be there in a moment.
Longer isn’t good.
I Would not leave before parents returned or is ring 101 no question.
At criminal bar and have done too many car thefts and have done some where child is in the car for this to be risk free. Also simple knock by another parker etc.
Just feels way too long to leave such a young child alone.