This happens in hotels where the facilities are all under one roof and where there are listening services. Leaving small children all alone in an unsecured apartment immediately adjacent to a public road while the parents went off dining and socialising was irresponsible. It matters little whether it was 50 metres away or 5 miles, events can occur where youngsters are concerned.
What is all the more galling about this case is the fact that facilities were available but the McCanns thought they knew better and didn't bother. They took a chance and it backfired on them.
With respect Angelo - you are missing the point - which is that thousands of people whilst on holiday have made exactly the same choice as the McCanns and left their children alone in their rooms to go to dinner . It makes no difference where the room is situated, or whether they use an official listening service or whether they make their own checks, or whether they use baby alarms and make no checks, the parents have still made that choice to leave their babies and children alone in their rooms. It's quite obvious that they made the same decision as the McCanns because just like them - they believed it was safe - and clearly - also for obvious reasons - it never once entered their heads that their child could be abducted.
This is because (a) It's so rare. The last child to disappear abroad was Ben Needham 16 years prior -so that would not be in their minds. And (b) because people always believe that horrific stuff only ever happens to other people. Hence the familiar ''I never thought this could happen to me'' comment.
There are folk who completely disagree with the listening method of childcare - and they are entitled to their opinion, but singling the McCanns out for eternal persecution - as if no other parents had ever done the same - when we know that leaving children in this way has been so popular with parents (on holiday) that for decades it has been offered to them as a service - is completely wrong IMO.
I am far more shocked by parents who - knowing what happened to Madeleine - still make the choice to leave their children and/or use baby alarms than I ever was by the McCanns.
Hindsight is a wonderful weapon - it's also a very unfair one to use against those who did not have it's benefit at the time.
AIMHO