Florida mum, 24, is arrested after stealing a car which burst into flames while she was ‘SHOPLIFTING’ – leaving her two children with first-degree burns
- Alicia Moore, 24, from Florida, was arrested after leaving her two young children unattended in her car in the parking lot of a shopping mall which then caught fire
- Moore allegedly went inside the mall accompanied by an unidentified man to shoplift from stores at the Oviedo Mall near Orlando
- A two- and four-year-old child was left inside and had been playing with matches sparking the fire – both were injured and one suffered first-degree burns.
A Florida woman has been arrested and could still face further charges after leaving her two young children unattended in her car in a mall parking lot as she drove inside for an alleged joyride shoplifted – only for his vehicle to catch fire.
Alicia Moore, 24, left the children, unable to care for themselves, inside the vehicle as she entered the store accompanied by an unidentified man.
The couple reportedly scoured stores at the Oviedo Mall in Oviedo, northeast of Orlando, stealing items as they went.
But the couple were surprised when Moore’s car, which police later learned was a stolen vehicle, was parked and suddenly burst into flames, quickly becoming engulfed in flames at the exterior of Dillard’s department store.
A two- and four-year-old child was left inside and had been playing with matches sparking the fire
The ferocity of the blaze could be seen as flames shot through the windows of the vehicle
Alicia Moore, 24, from Florida, was arrested after leaving her two young children unattended in her car in the parking lot of a shopping mall which then caught fire
Officials say Moore had either left a lighter or a string of matches inside the car the children were playing with, starting the fire.
Moore did not reappear outside the mall for nearly an hour after leaving the children, aged two and four, inside the vehicle.
City of Oviedo officials shared video footage of the fire recorded by a Tesla car parked nearby.
The clip shows the fire starting inside the car before spreading rapidly, resulting in windows shattering and fierce flames leaping out the windows.
The two young children inside managed to escape with the help of nearby shoppers who rushed to their aid.
The car windows shattered as the flames spread
The youngsters in the car were able to escape after shoppers came to their rescue
The burnt shell of the car was still visible in the parking lot of the mall
Authorities were on site Friday to investigate how the fire may have started
Both children were injured in the fire and taken to hospital, with one suffering first-degree burns to his face and ears.
Moore allegedly dropped the stolen items as she fled the mall.
She was later arrested and charged with child neglect and arson.
