This is a good lesson for all the moms and dads.  I don’t believe she should have left the children in the car at all.  If you are too lazy to tend to your children stop having them.  I know how inconvient it can be getting them in and out the car but you were the one that choose to be a mom.

Abigail your caop friend is wrong. Carjacking is a federal offense although some states do have statutes that cover carjacking. However, Alabama is not one of those states. Taken from the Federal legal dictionary——

President George Herbert Walker Bush signed the act into law on October 25, 1992. The statute’s provision regarding carjacking was as follows:

Whoever, possessing a firearm, as defined in section 921 of this title, takes a motor vehicle that has been transported, shipped or received in interstate or foreign commerce from the person or presence of another by force and violence or by intimidation, or attempts to do so, shall—1) be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both. 2) If serious bodily injury … results, be fined under this title or be imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both, and 3) if death results, be fined under this title or imprisoned for any number of years up to life, or both.

“Possessing a firearm, as defined under section 921 of this title” was deleted and replaced with “with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm.”

It says nothing about the vehicle being occupied. It’s theft of property first degree under state law. My brother is a police officer by the way.

This is not about being a perfect parent, this is about being a smart one and putting the childrens safety first. This is a scary world we live in and as a parent we have to protect our children and if that means waking them up to go pay for gas or bill then freakin do it.She was the adult she new the danger, yes there are thugs out there and if it makes you feel better to blame them (thugs)then I feel sorry for your children.

Personally, I think it’s safer to lock the car doors, take the keys, and run in a gas station (for less than a minute) than it is to drag two toddlers into a store.  Particularly if you can see the car from where you’re standing and the kids are strapped in car seats.  I find this especially true if it’s raining or if it’s cold outside.  I think the odds of a kid breaking your grip and running free in a parking lot in front of a car are higher than someone trying to steal your kid.  Toddlers are experts at suddenly darting off, and kids with terrific parents get hit by cars all the time. 

I don’t make a habit of leaving my kids, but if I did, I would never leave the car unlocked, and especially wouldn’t leave it running. And I’d never leave them in a hot car, but I think people overreact a bit about kids being left for very, very short time periods.  I heard that the car was left running, but I think I saw on another site that she put the keys under the driver’s seat. I do wonder why she didn’t just lock the car and take the keys with her? 

I think it’s a matter of perspective and depends on the circumstances.  Certainly not the best decision, but I don’t see how it would serve the children well to punish the mom if she’s an otherwise good parent.  Take it out on the fool who took the car.

I agree Great1. Let me ask you Bum-do you have kids? Have you watched your child every second,of every day? Did you take your child in the bathroom with you each time you went-Lord forbid,they could have gotten into mischief if you didn’t. Did you ever doze off watching a ball game,while your toddler was playing? Did you ALWAYS make sure that food was COMPLETELY mashed up? No one is advocating locking a kid in the car to go on a shopping spree. But unless you have been there,done that-you have NO clue. It isn’t necessarily “easier” for the parent to leave a sleeping child in the car to run pay a gas station attendant or a bill,but it is EASIER on the child to not have to be awakened from a nap,irritable and cranky for the rest of the day.

If you want to complain about parents,look at your own. Or look at the thugs,as Great1 said, who are causing the problems,and usually the lack of parenting there. And please,let us know when you win Perfect Parent Award,and your kids get Perfect Kid Award, OK?

How is it a parental problem? The PROBLEM is the thugs that are running rampant. Your holier than thou attitude is laughable.

that’s the problem with parents today. “...it’s much easier to just leave them…”...it’s all about making life easier for yourselves instead of doing the right thing every time for your children.

Thank goodness for Great1 & RM!  I was beginning to think I might be a terrible parent.  No, I don’t advise going on a two hour shopping spree and leaving your child in the car. BUT, like RM stated, sometimes it is much easier to leave a sleeping little one in the car to pay for gas than it is to get the carseat out & lug it in just to hand the cashier a $20.  The fault in this story lies with the man who decided to take something that wasn’t his. PERIOD.

Oh,and OMG-call DHR on me…....My kids have eaten CEREAL or a sandwich at night when I didn’t feel like cooking,and have actually slept on a pallet on the FLOOR.

Gee,I’m almost afraid to post anything,being the imperfect parent and person that I am…....I can’t believe no one else has EVER run in to pay for gas and left a sleeping child locked in the car,or left it running telling the kids to lock it behind you. Really????? Never???? “Maybe,” she should have cracked the windows and locked the car,or “maybe” she should have dealt with 2 cranky toddlers in the store for a few minutes, or “maybe” she should have gotten a baby-sitter to run errands. But I don’t think ANYONE who has kids can lay blame on someone for a mistake,unless you are totally fault free yourself. I know I’m not,and my kids turned out just fine…..