With reports of people leaving children in cars at school drop-offs and pets in cars while grocery shopping, police are reminding motorists of the ramifications of their actions.

"Cars become a furnace in this heat," Acting Inspector Madgwick said. 

"Anybody who is leaving a child in a car is just totally irresponsible and it can be deadly.

“Just don't do it under any circumstances, particularly in the heat."

Young resident Paul Lees said he witnessed a woman leaving a child in her car last week.

"I witnessed a woman who left her baby in the car while she went shopping at Vinnie's last week," he said.

"I had to duck out to my car to get five dollars. I walked past a car that was running with no one in it but a baby.

“The woman left the car running so the air conditioning was left on. None the less she was in the store more than ten minutes before I spoke up.

Mr Lees said he spoke to the woman but did not call police.

“I told her what she had done was illegal and dangerous,” he said. “Any desperate thief could have stolen her car with the baby in it." 

Mr Madgwick said if police catch people leaving children or pets in their car they could be in serious trouble.

"If people do leave children in the car, it is an offence and we will take action," he said.

Acting Inspector Madgwick said leaving children in a car is dangerous but giving them the keys to play with could be fatal.

“While you might think it is a good idea to give children keys to hold as a distraction while you leave them in the car, we have had reports of children accidentally locking themselves in cars while the parent or carer is away from the vehicle,” he said.

“It is against the law to leave a child locked in a car unattended. Parents can be fined up to $22,000 under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act."