Sarah I'm glad you're both ok. A very similar thing happened to me when my DD was 8 months old. Summer in Caboolture is not pretty, but luckily we were in an undercover shopping centre carpark. I had just buckled her in to her seat, and a guy tried to get into the car next to me. I put my keys down on the seat to move out of the way while he got in to his car, but he said thanks and shut my car door. It was locked, my keys were inside, no spare set and 38 degrees even in the shade. I made the man give me 40 cents (mobile, purse were inside the car too) and I ran up into the shops and called RACQ who said they'd be five minutes. I called out to Security and asked if they could come help me.

The stupid girl at the information counter interpreted this to mean, "Lady's problem is fixed, would be really helpful of me to call and CANCEL RACQ callout".

Security guy couldn't break in with a coathanger. 10 minutes later and Gabrielle was starting to scream and go pink. I didn't know the girl had cancelled the RACQ callout, but I couldn't wait any longer to get my baby out and so just smashed the front window.

I was livid when Security checked with the information desk to find out what had happened to the RACQ guy. DH was also furious and called them when he got home from work that night.

Will never forget that feeling of helplessness, and I, too, balled when Gabrielle was finally in my arms inside the airconditioned shops drinking cool water.

I now am really conscious of keeping my keys on me and my phone in my pocket/bag until I am in the car myself. I hope it never happens again.

Sorry, just re-read that and it sounds all about me. But reading your story brought it all back, even though it was 4 years ago.