WASHINGTON — Good Samaritans at shopping center took matters into their own hands when they saw two children crying in a hot Jeep Monday afternoon in Katy, Texas.

They smashed the window with a hammer to free the kids, who were trapped inside with a child lock.

KHOU in Houston reports the mother later arrived and said she was getting a haircut.

She pleaded with the shoppers, saying she made a terrible mistake.

The police were not called.

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