Two children left in running car outside Providence home when man takes vehicle

PROVIDENCE — A woman left her car running and the driver's door open in front of a house on Rhodes Street Wednesday afternoon when she jumped out to check something on the porch.

While her back was turned, a man jumped in the car and sped off — with her two young children, according to police Major David Lapatin.

Luz Moncion called 911 around 4:30 p.m. to report her children missing.

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Moments later, the police received another call from Borinquen Street, two blocks away. A woman reported that a man had just stopped, left two small children sitting in a driveway, and sped off again, Lapatin said.

The children were uninjured and returned to Moncion. The state Department of Children, Youth and Families is investigating her for leaving her children in the car, Lapatin said.

"You can't leave a car running and children in a car," he said.

No arrests had been made as of Thursday morning.