about three young kids locked in a massive 4x4 in supermarket carpark while carer shops

[ipanemagirl]

I noticed the alarm was going off and saw a little head leaping about inside. Mentioned it to supermarket staff who looked concerned but were quick to say "there's nothing we can do really". I saw the woman walk out, turn the alarm off and go back to her queue. Then with no haste at all she got back in her car after appearing to shout at the kids. No supermarket staff around at all then.
Makes me so pissed off.

do you have a link to that story thederkinsdame?

I don't like taking dd out in the pram in case a lorry comes up onto pavement and squishes her - not logical at all but there have been several stories about similar incidents over the last few years. it is hard to accurately assess risk. I know for sure though there's a lot higher risk of my o windows being smashed for my handbag than anyone deciding to try and deliberately nick the kids out of a locked car - unless you believe there are paedophiles round every corner. it doesn't seem the cleverest idea in the world to leave them in a car unattended for any period of time but a few minutes is not taking much of a risk of anything happening.

I personally don't think it is wise to leave a small child in a car if you can't visually observe them - principally because I left my then 4 year old in the locked car whilst I collected his sister from school. Whilst I was walking back to the car (parked a few hundred yards from the school gate) we met him coming the other way - he had woken up and unlocked the car and got out. Thank heavens he got out the pavement side and not the road side.

here you go sanfairy

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1795079.stm

thanks thederkinsdame, what was the outcome of the investigation do you know - they were hinting at drug dealing - it didn't turn out to be anything horrific like arson? I couldn't find out thro quick google search. I've never heard of a car catching fire with kids inside being burnt to death before - always thought it was pretty much an urban myth so thanks for the link. when people mention stories like this I also always wonder if it makes much difference if you're in the car or not - maybe it's better to be outside the car so you can open the doors more easily - if you were inside you might be trapped as the engine catches fire and you're closest to the engine

still think my 4 or 5 stories in the last two years of babies/toddlers being crushed in prams makes prams more dangerous as a means of transport but that's cos I'm reacting emotionally.

this is besides the point but these threads (or more specifically the leaving kids in car while getting petrol threads) always remind me of health and safety training I once did. a vid of a petrol station - guess the risk - play vid - huge tire rolls off lorry and squashes man crossing forecourt. life is unpredictable

www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/3367_car_death_fire_is_a_mystery
sorry did just find a link to inquest - not engine in any case

It is, sanfairy, but I think you have to keep a sense of proportion. The risk is miniscule, and TBH I am more worried about my DS escaping from a car, than it catching fire. I don't leave him, cos it makes me uncomfortable. Everyone makes their own choices, and I think that's fine as long as the child isn't in danger, but as you can probably tell I am naturally cautious and I have an escapologist who is very keen on running off.

also how unpleasant is it for young children to sit in a car with a really loud alarm going off for minutes at a time.

Obviously a minute or two is fine.

Over 10 minutes, without sight of the car, is too long with an alarm going off in my opinion!

I'm not saying 'imprison and remove her kids' I'm just saying ' I think this woman was moronic '.
Just my opinion!