An AMBER alert issued by authorities in Springfield Missouri has a happy ending. The AMBER alert stated a 2002 gray Nissan Maxima with license plate YG6-K5R was stolen from a parking lot of a store while two children were in the car. The children, a boy age four and a girl age one allegedly were left in the car without an adult present. Shortly after the car was taken the boy was found unharmed near an elementary school.

The AMBER alert issued for Harmony Blue, an infant with black hair and brown eyes, has been cancelled. The car and the girl have been found by authorities and the girl is safe. According to KSDK News, “the children’s father left the keys in the ignition while he was inside a store.” This is a disturbing statement. Sadly, it is a common statement heard on the news all too frequently.

What logic allows a parent to leave any age child unattended in a car? Even more disturbing is a parent who leaves young children in a car and leaves the car keys in the ignition while the parent goes inside a store. What ever happened to common sense?

Children and cars are a dangerous mix. Just ask Janette Fennell founder of KidsAndCars.org. KidsAndCars.org is the first organization to document non-traffic deaths of children in and around cars. No child should be left unattended in a car not even for a second. Tragedy can happen in the blink of an eye.

According to the media release posted on the Springfield Missouri Police website: “on 03/02/201 Officer #1357 HICKS, T. reports I investigated an abduction. Children were in the back of a vehicle when it was stolen. Limited suspect information.”

Will the father of the children left unattended be charged with endangering the well fare of a child? Many parents simply do not believe anything will happen and that it is no big deal to leave a child in the car while they run into pay for gas, or to get their purse, or to… (You fill in the blank).

Do you or have you left children alone in a car? Under what circumstances (if any) is it ok to leave a child in a car unattended? How do you feel about being charged with endangering the well-being of a child if caught leaving a child alone?

Please stop in and share your thoughts in the Missing and Exploited Children free forum about this article or the questions posed. For more information on how to keep children safe in and around vehicles visit KidsAndCars.org.