A Florida woman has been arrested and could face charges after robbing a store while her car caught fire when two children were alone, prompting shoppers to rush to help, police and online court records reported.
The woman identified as Alicia Moore, 24, parked her vehicle at Dillard’s department store in Oviedo Mall, where two children who were unable to care for themselves were inside the car, according to police reports.
The suspect entered the store with another man, who was not identified, and they allegedly began stealing items. About an hour later, she walked back to find her vehicle completely engulfed in flames.
According to police in a report, the woman dropped the suspected stolen items and ran out of the mall, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
Nearby shoppers ran to the vehicle and helped rescue the two children inside, police said. Both were taken to a hospital, with one of the boys suffering first-degree burns to his face and ears, police said in their report.
According to a video by the City of Oviedo, a nearby Tesla was captured, showing that the fire quickly tore through the vehicle, breaking a passenger window and what appeared to be the front windshield.
Moore faces charges of child neglect with great bodily harm and first-degree arson, with bail set at $40,000, Clickorlando reported.