Kid Left in sweltering car leads to child abuse arrest [POLL]

Is there ever any age when you can leave kids alone in a car while you leave to do some shopping?
Before you say “never,” think of the age of the child in question.

In the case cited above and in this story, the boy is 2.

It’s never ok to leave a 2 year old unattended in a car – sweltering or not!

Let me repeat that so you don’t misunderstand me – NEVER OK TO LEAVE A 2 YEAR OLD IN A CAR UNATTENDED.
However, you might let them once they get older.

Question is: what’s the age?

9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 23?

Here’s my problem. Living as we do in a society where children are abducted all the time, I would probably feel no child is safe left unattended.

But at some point you do have to trust them.

In the story cited: you don’t trust a 2 year old. In fact, you don't trust the mother leaving a 2 year old in a car unattended.

This woman is 'pazz!' Why not just take the 2 year old with her into the doctor's office? Or leave the kid home with a sitter if you know you have a doctor's appointment.

This is why some people should never have kids.

Now if the kid were 15, I might not have a problem. If the kid were 13, depending on his or her level of maturity, I still may not have a problem – but would bring the kid into the store with me, just to be on the safe side.

Weird because I remember a time when my mother and I would travel into the city, and if I didn't want to go shopping with her, I'd ask her for carfare to go home, which she would give me - and happily take the train.

That ship, unfortunately, has sailed.

At what age would you allow your kid to be left unattended in a car?