Leslie Dobson, a psychologist and mother of two from Los Angeles, stunned social media when she admitted she never returns her cart. Her video spread fast, pulling millions of views and even more opinions. In the clip, she stood firm, saying she wouldn’t risk leaving her kids alone in the car—not even for a short walk.

The backlash was instant.

People accused her of being lazy. Others called it a test of character. But Leslie didn’t back down. Instead, she posted a second video and shared what she called her biggest fear: child abduction in parking lots.

“Last year, 265 children were abducted in parking lots,” she said in a shaky voice, adding, “Half were sexually assaulted.”
That quote became the emotional turning point of her message.

While many questioned the accuracy of the statistic, Leslie insisted her concern was real. She explained that returning a cart often means leaving a running car, walking across a large lot, and losing sight of her children—something she refuses to risk. She reminded viewers that in some parts of California, leaving a car unattended can even be illegal.

Her tone softened as she spoke about trusting personal instinct. If a parking lot feels unsafe, she said, a parent shouldn’t ignore that feeling. Safety, she insisted, matters more than a stranger’s judgment or an online debate.

Toward the end, Leslie offered a quiet reflection:
“Risk isn’t worth it. Our lives are precious.”

Her message struck a chord. Some disagreed. Some defended her. But many paused, thought about late-night parking lots, and understood exactly what she meant.