Leaving young children in a vehicle unattended is a crime.

A MidMichigan sheriff says it's happened three times this year in one township alone.

And as the shopping season kicks off, shoppers are being warned not to trade safety for convenience.

Sure it's a hassle to bundle up the kids and strap them in their seats, but it's for their safety.

However, leaving them in those seats while you're away is not only dangerous, it's criminal.

"We understand that times are tough. Sometimes people can't afford baby-sitters, but it's your responsibility to take your child into that store with you," says Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel.

Michigan Penal Code Section 750.135a says, "A person who is responsible for the care or welfare of a child shall not leave that child unattended in a vehicle for a period of time that poses an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the child..."

A child is defined as being less than six years old.

The sheriff says three incidents happened in Saginaw County's Kochville Township near Bay and Tittabawassee Roads in November and January of this year.

In one case, a 6-year-old and 3-year-old were left in a running vehicle.

In the two other cases, children were asked to watch infants.

"There's no way a 10-year-old or a 9-year-old is able to take care of an infant child for an extended period of time in the middle of a parking lot. What if that infant started choking? What's the 10-year-old going to do?" Federspiel says.

Those NBC25 spoke with say they've never seen unattended children in vehicles, but they say they know what they'd do if they did.

MidMichigan shopper Dave Martin says, "I definitely would get in touch with the authorities and let them know that there's a kid in there. Depending on the time of year, if it was warm weather or really hot, I would have to take the kid out myself and break the window."

The Saginaw County prosecutor has issued child abuse charges in each case.

The Department of Human Services has also been notified.

Those who leave their children unattended in vehicles face a 93-day misdemeanor and/or a $500 fine.

If something harmful happens to the child the person responsible could be charged as a felon.