Howell Township, NJ – A Lakewood woman has been charged after police said she left four young children unattended inside a vehicle while shopping at the Walmart on Route 9 in Howell Township.
Rivka Shapiro, 24, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child following the June 28 incident. Authorities said the children, ranging in age from 1 to 11 years old, were found inside the vehicle after concerned shoppers contacted police.
Bystanders noticed children inside vehicle
According to Howell police, the vehicle was running with the air conditioner on and at least one window partially open. However, passersby became concerned after noticing the children appeared sweaty while sitting inside the parked vehicle.
A source familiar with the investigation said that investigators believe the air conditioning may have stopped working after one of the children accidentally adjusted the climate controls.
Warm weather can quickly become dangerous
The temperature in Howell reached about 82 degrees that afternoon, according to weather records. Safety experts warn that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rise rapidly, even on relatively mild summer days.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises caregivers never to leave children unattended in a vehicle, warning that a child’s body heats three to five times faster than an adult’s. Health experts say interior vehicle temperatures can reach life-threatening levels within minutes, increasing the risk of heat-related illness or death.
Shapiro was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Information regarding her initial court appearance was not immediately available.
Key Points
- Rivka Shapiro, 24, of Lakewood, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after police said she left four children in a vehicle while shopping at a Howell Walmart.
- The children, ages 1 to 11, were discovered after concerned bystanders alerted authorities.
- Investigators believe the vehicle’s air conditioner may have stopped working, while safety officials warn parked vehicles can become dangerously hot in a short period.
