... kid left in the car ...
By ebsharer
@ebsharer (5515)
United States
April 27, 2009 8:37pm CST
So I go to the Chinese restaurant order my food and wait the ten minutes for it to be done. I walk out the door and see a yellow car parked in the handicap spot windows down, car running, radio blaring. No big deal right … I walk to my car which is parked next to the yellow car and what do I see but a child about 2 years old in the back seat!
I go to the restaurant door and yell in whose yellow car is this. A guy says “its mine”. I said “get you’re a$$ out here and get your kid before I call the police”. He says “I can see him, he’s fine” At this point I am pisssssed! I say again “get out here and get your kid it is neglect to leave your child in a car unattended and I will call the police!”
So he walks out to the car opens the back door then shuts it. I am sitting in my car at this point with the doors locked thinking to myself OMG is this guy gonna kill me or what?!?! (You never know in today’s world and I read/watch the news too much) So he’s just sitting there and I put my window down just a little bit and yell. “I’m not leaving till I know your gonna take that kid in with you to get your food or leave”. So he gets out of the car and gets the kid out and goes into the restaurant.
So my questions are what would you do? If you seen a child in a car alone? Would you say some thing or let it go? Would you walk away? I want all your thoughts on this please!?!?!
4 people like this
19 responses
@suzzy3 (8342)
•
28 Apr 09
Exactly the same as you no matter what happens, seeing a small child unattended in a place where someone could steal the child and car. It is different if they can be seen from a short distance ,but I would not do it.They are far to precious to be careless with them.I would probably call the police rather than risk getting my head punched in.I would not walk away.xx
1 person likes this
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
28 Apr 09
That is the best thing to do maybe it will teach them a lesson.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
4 Jul 09
The children are our responsibility. If some adult cause abuse, it is our duty to protect the child. I will do something about it. I do not care if somebody calls me nosy. I will fight for the child, no matter what.
1 person likes this
@Amberina (1541)
• United States
29 Apr 09
I don't confront strangers but what I would do is wait and watch the car to see that no one would take it and see if the baby was ok. I would call the police and just watch them confront the person. I would be too scared to confront the person because you never know what would happen if the person got mad.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
28 Apr 09
Hi ebsharer,
I really appreciate your courage and they way you handled the situation especially with a stranger. I don’t know if I am in your place, whether I can gather this much courage and react strongly. Definitely I will worry about the kid, but tackling with stranger, really difficult for me. In our place these situations are normally not happening. People are more careful with kids at least.
How are you? Hope you are doing well. Have a nice day. 
1 person likes this
@wahmivy (776)
• Philippines
28 Apr 09
That guy's lucky you didn't report him right away (are you from a state where this is illegal?). That was really brave and I'm glad he didn't make trouble for you. Anyway, do you guys remember that mom whose car (with her kid in it) was stolen from her own driveway? She reported the theft, they found the car, the kid was unharmed, and the mom later found herself charged with negligence or something like that. Apparently, it's against the law to leave a child in the car by himself or herself in that state, even if you're just bringing in the diaper bag and other stuff before getting the baby.
@angielove (4)
• United States
28 Apr 09
I recently heard a story from a neighbor of mine about her doing the exact same thing. I say right on! In her case, she was going to a cafe that was next to a bar and the parents of this baby were in the bar. The baby wasn't in a seat, the windows were all up, and the baby had been crying it's head off smearing the windows with it's snot and tears! Poor thing. But really, I think it is great that you stood up against those kinds of people. How dangerous was it that the child was all alone? And while that guy might do it again, at least he will think twice about it. Hopefully, he was embarrassed enough to know that he can't get away with stuff like that.
1 person likes this
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Believe me if that child had been crying or the windows were up or it was a typical hot florida day i would have called the police right then and there. The situation was not that bad so I felt it was ok to just say some thing to the parent rather then call the police.
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
28 Apr 09
No I would say something, that happen about 6 months ago, it was nice outside and this man, had left his kid in the car and I went back in the store, and ask him was that his car, he said yes, I told him you shouldn't leave that kid in the Car. he goes oh, he is alright , He had the windows down with car runnining, and music blasted, now he must of really been crazy because anyone could of came up and stole the Car with the Kid in the Car people don't care!
1 person likes this
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
28 Apr 09
A child that young shouldn't be left in the car for even a second! Can you imagine all the horrible things that could happen? I mean, you look away for one second and the kids are into everything. Leaving one in a car with all kinds of buttons and levers and such? No way. You did the right thing. I would have been tempted to call the police or DCFS anyway. Nothing like a quick home inspection to get the juices flowing.
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Well the child was in a car seat but still kids get into things. I know my daughter (about the same age) can take her seat belt off - not that she does because she knows better but point is if I left her in a car she would surely get out of her seat!
I was very tempted to call the police anyway but hopefully I gave this guy enough of a scare to get his kid out even just for a min.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
28 Apr 09
i wouldnt say a word but i certainly would call the police and let them deal with it. i know this has happened quite a bit in this area, especially on the grounds of a casino in the area, what the heck are these parents thinking?
here it is a criminal offence to do this.
1 person likes this
@hunandi (288)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Yeah I think I would pretty much do what you did. Theres no way he should be leaving a child that lil alone in a car. Let alone with the keys in it. Its like a big calling card to theifs hey look no adults cars running lets still it. Point being put a side hey they may not even notice the kd in the back seat. Then whos to blame. Not the dumb theif. Its the brainless person that left the child like that in the frist place.
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
28 Apr 09
I agree 100%! You know the Shell there on Babcock that has the outside window. I would take Lu there just so I didn't have to get her out of the car (winter time). I'd drive past a gas station just to go to that one! The window was as close to the car as if I was standing outside the car pumping gas.
Hows the girls?
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Apr 09
You took a big risk confronting a stranger...and one who was so callous as to leave a small child in a vehicle unattended. Personally, I would have called the police from the parking lot. I doubt this was the first or will it be the last time this man leaves that child in the car unattended but, with a police record, he would have been more likely to change his behavior.
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
28 Apr 09
I didn't even think about the risk to me when I confronted the owner of the car all I could think of was what would happen to the child if I didn't.
Believe me I was very tempted to still call the police I hope that my saying some thing put enough scare in him.
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
28 Apr 09
You did the right thing. Good for you!1 person likes this
@Ruby722 (796)
• China
29 Apr 09
It is makes me remind a song
Do not leave your baby alone forever.Especially in public palce. But obvious this father(or not) is not with responsibility for his child, Maybe itis not his child
In another possibility his is a bad guy.if like this,
the writer's advice can make his angry and he maybe will do some terrible things to the writer , but that "if" .I think the writer had better protect yourself.and call the police.that is the best way to work out this problem.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Personally I could have never kept on confronting someone like you did, especially with getting someone upset, and then asking him again after he comes out to the Car. I probably would have just went in and said something to the people in the restaurant and see if someone responded, and then called in the Cops to investigate. You are really lucky that the person did not retaliate for sure.
1 person likes this
@la_chique (1498)
•
5 Jul 09
I think that its wrong for the parent to leave the kid in the car, but also, you took a really big risk there. Obviously the parent or whoever he was is completely irresponsible leaving the kid in the car, and you dont know how he'll react, or what he's on. He could have been taking drigs or drinking, in which case, he'll not be thinking clearly. He could try to attack you, either because he's intoxicated, or just because people dont like others telling them they are in the wrong. He could have reacted badly and you could have been on the recieving end. If he had been angry, and not taken it out on you, he could have hurt the child after you'd left him.
Personally, in my location, I would have ignored it. At best I'd have called the police and given them the car's license plate. They would then decide what to do. Around here, if I did what you did, my face would be mashed very far into the pavement by now. I wouldnt recommend that you do it again.
I didnt mean to be offensive. I think its good that you noticed, and that you cared, but next time if it ever happens again, report it to the police and try not to get involved.
@omiami (412)
• Malta
28 Apr 09
you really did a nice thing but next time becareful. Sometimes its better to call the police straight away just in case you get attacked or something. I cannot believe why these people behave in this way. They are so irresponsible. I would never leave a child of 10 alone in the car sometimes, imagine one of 2 years. They can be kidnapped or get hurt. Things happen in a split of a second under your own supervision, imagine when they arent. I really hate to see these things. Or else another example which i frequently see is little kids in the car with no seatbelts on and they jump all the way through. I dont have any children but I take care of niece and nephew since they were born, and i never ever left them unsupervised. Kids are so precious and when something happens to them maybe people will realise what they have done. You did an amazing thing although you risked for that because you dont know who that person is and what he might do. I really admire you for this! But again becareful if you encounter something similar again!
1 person likes this
@Setto24 (122)
• Indonesia
29 Apr 09
OW... you confront the stranger. But you would take some risk to do that. MyB you have to think first the way you want to be to that stranger. But, basicaly you r the same with me. I i watched something not good, I will make sure that it will not bother anyone or it will not danger it self... just like your case. example, If I saw your car door not closed well, I will let you stop your car and tell you why am I stop your car.
MyB i will wrote something bad in your whiper car if you parking on the wrong place (disable).( but if only I park in the right place next 2 you. LOL)
