A Manchester mom has arrested in connection with risk of injury after leaving her two young children in the car on a cold day to shoplift at Gap Kids, according to South Windsor Police.
Store security at the Gap Kids at Evergreen Walk detained Sharmerra Canty, 26, of Rachel Road in Manchester, on Wednesday and responding officers learned that she’d left her 1- and 3-year-old children locked in the car in the parking lot, police said.
The car was not running, so there was no heat on a day when the outside temperature was about 34 degrees.
The children were alone for about 15 minutes, Canty said, according to police.
Police said arrangements were made for the grandmother to take custody of the children and officers referred the case to the state Department of Children and Families.
Canty was charged with risk of injury to a minor and larceny in the sixth degree.
She was released on $5,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear at Manchester Superior Court on Feb. 28. She declined to comment when NBC Connecticut reached out to her.