Mom Leaves Kids In Car For 45 Mins While In Best Buy: DG Police

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A 43-year-old mother is facing charges of child endangerment after she allegedly left her kids unattended in her car while she was in Best Buy for nearly an hour. Police say Danielle Thompson, of Chicago, left her children in their carseats with the windows of her vehicle down while she went into the store to pick up a television on Thursday.

While Thompson was allegedly inside the store, a concerned shopper called police around 2:30 p.m. to report that there were two children unattended in a car for over 20 minutes. When police got to the scene, they say the children were still unattended in their carseats, but that the windows of the car were open and the temperature inside seemed "comfortable." They noted that the outdoor temperature was 79 degrees.

Police say Thompson returned to her car at around 3:24 p.m. and told responding officers that she went into Best Buy to pick up a television, but was delayed when there was a discrepancy about the price of the TV. According to police, the children were left unattended for between 45 and 52 minutes.

Thompson was charged with child endangerment and permitted to leave with her children, a police report said. She is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24.

The incident was reported to DCFS.

Image via GoogleMaps Streetview