FAR ROCKAWAY, Queens (WABC) — A mother has been arraigned on charges of leaving four children home alone while she was allegedly out committing a crime.
The crime was discovered when her young son, who is nonverbal, was found wandering alone about a block from where the kids were left alone Monday night in Far Rockaway.
Eyewitness News obtained surveillance video of the child, who could be seen running aimlessly through the laundromat parking lot in Far Rockaway early Tuesday morning.
Leshea Harris, 30, is charged with leaving four children home alone at an apartment in Far Rockaway, Queens, so she could break into a home in New Lots, Brooklyn.
Harris, along with 30-year-old Amariah George, broke into an apartment at 445 New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn at around 9:10 p.m. Monday night, police say.
Authorities say they climbed up the fire escape and broke in through the window, pepper sprayed the victim, attempted to stun her with a stun gun, punched her multiple times and stole a bag of clothing.
It is likely they knew their victim, who was not seriously hurt, police say.
Both Harris and George are charged with robbery, aggravated criminal possession of a weapon, assault, criminal mischief and menacing.
Harris was then taken to Queens Criminal Court for an arraignment on her four children left home alone.
The children are three boys, ages 4, 6 and 10, and a 9-year-old girl.
The young boy who was found alone in the parking lot is safe and in the custody of ACS after being evaluated at the hospital.
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