A motorist driving in the 6100 block of Fordham on July 13 was flagged down by a crying 7-year-old boy who was locked out of his house.
The motorist called West U Police, who arrived at the West U residence and tried to locate the 7-year-old’s parents, who were not home, police said.
The boy’s parents went to dinner and left him at home because he had thrown a temper tantrum.
The officer found a number for his parents at the restaurant, but they didn’t seem too concerned because they had left him home alone before.
When the officer suggested they not leave their son home alone, the father said he did not appreciate their parental advice.
The district attorney’s office and child protective services were contacted, but they couldn’t do anything because the child was not hurt, police said.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:32 pm
I feel those parents should be thrown in jail. This is child negligence!! The police should publish who the parents were so they can be ridiculed.
July 28th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
It is absolutely absurd that nothing could be done to those parents. How in the world can it be legal to leave a seven year old alone in the house. And Child Protective Services couldn’t do anything because the child wasn’t hurt? What happend to “prevention”?
I don’t understand…this madness…plain madness.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
If that child was found in the street in a poor part of town, he would have been taken from the home and placed with a temporary guardian due to neglect. How did these people get treated differently? Race, money?
July 30th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Those parents should be ashamed of themselves. I would throw a temper tantrum too if I were seven years old and my parents regularly left me home alone to face the potential dangers of burglaries, fire, sexual predators, poisoning, and accidents by myself. I don’t understand how it can be legal to leave a seven year old home alone. Lucky for them the “motorist” was a nice person and not one of the registered sex offenders who live in the area.