Sunrise Mother Leaves Toddlers, 3 and 1, Home While Shopping, Kids Wander

A Sunrise woman was arrested Sunday for leaving her 3 and 1-year-old children home alone while authorities say she went to Home Depot.

Officers were called to an apartment complex at 2330 NW 72nd Ave. after the two toddlers were found wandering around the parking lot.

Police say the parking lot is adjacent to the Sunset Strip, which has heavy traffic in the area.

A passing driver pulled over and took the children to the courtyard of the complex in an attempt to find their parents. He then found a woman who lived in the complex who told him she knew where they lived.

Police say the man left the children with the woman and left the area.

The woman told officers that she took the children to their apartment and saw that the front door was open. She says she yelled into the home, but no one responded.

A few minutes later, she called police. 

According to the arrest report, the children's mother, 27-year-old Rose Petit Homme, arrived about five minutes later, holding a Home Depot bag.

Credit: BCSO

Petit Homme told officers that she had to walk to the store to buy a tool and left the children home because they were sleeping.

Authorities say the children were alone for at least an hour and a half.

Police say the family's apartment is about 50 feet from the complex's community pool, which is surrounded by a chain link fence. However, police say gate was not secure, putting the children in increasing danger. 

Petit Homme was arrested on two counts of child neglect.


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