One more time, since the daily examples don’t seem to sink in: Do not leave your car idling anytime, anywhere, even for a second.

For those who insist on challenging common sense, be prepared to learn a hard, possibly horrifying lesson.

On Thursday, a Marysville father pulled into his driveway, where he left his car running, and ran into the house to quickly grab something. He came out in time to see his car being driven over his lawn and down the street. With his 3-month-old baby inside.

Luckily, the car thief quickly abandoned the car in a parking lot, probably when she realized she had a baby onboard. Safe to say this father will never leave his car or baby unattended again.

At the other end of the possible outcomes, a 47-year-old Renton man was recently run over and killed when he confronted someone stealing his car. The victim, who was getting ready for work, started his car to let it warm up and went back inside his apartment. At some point, he looked out the window and saw the theft in progress and ran out to confront the thief, according to police. The thief ran over the car owner, dragging him through the parking lot.

No car is worth dying or even fighting for. Almost all cars are worth locking when they are warming up. An extra set of keys is all it takes.

Law enforcement repeats the don’t-leave-your-car-idling mantra over and over again. But it doesn’t sink in. It was just in November that six idling cars in Snohomish County were stolen in one day. No doubt those folks keep their cars locked at all times now. Let’s learn from them. Let’s help law enforcement by not creating situations that make it easy for car thieves, who are more brazen all of the time. They will stop at nothing, considering that some are willing to run you over and kill you.

It’s hard not to get on a high horse when it comes to people leaving a baby in a running vehicle. In May, a Bothell mother left her 3-month-old baby in her in idling SUV, so the air conditioner could keep the baby cool, while she ran into a liquor store. The car, of course, was stolen. A couple of frightening hours later, the police found the suspect, vehicle and baby, who was OK. No one wants to disturb a sleeping infant for a three-minute errand, but as the mother learned, it’s really not a bother when the consequences are considered.

So, once again: Do not leave your vehicle idling, anywhere, under any circumstance.