Florida mom, 24, was SHOPLIFTING when her car with two children inside burst into flames leaving them with first-degree burns
- Alicia Moore, 24, from Florida was arrested after leaving her two young children unattended in her car at a shopping mall parking lot which then caught on 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 were left inside and had been playing with matches triggering the blaze – both were injured with one suffering first degree burns
A woman from Florida was arrested and may still face further charges after she left her two young children unattended in her car at a shopping mall parking lot while she went inside on an alleged shoplifting spree – only to have her vehicle burst into flames.
Alicia Moore, 24, left the children, who were unable to care for themselves, inside the vehicle while she went into the store accompanied by an unidentified man.
The pair are alleged to have browse the shops at Oviedo Mall, in Oviedo northeast of Orlando, stealing items as they went.
But the couple were caught out when Moore’s car, which police later learned was a stolen vehicle, was parked up and suddenly ignited, quickly becoming engulfed in flames outside the Dillard’s department store.
A two and four-year-old child were left this inside and had been playing with matches triggering the blaze
The ferocity of the fire could be seen as flamed shot out through the windows of the vehicle
Alicia Moore, 24, from Florida was arrested after leaving her two young children unattended in her car at a shopping mall parking lot which then caught on fire
Officials say that Moore had either left a lighter or a set of matches inside the car which the children played with, triggering the fire.
Moore did not reappear outside the mall for almost one hour after she had left the children, aged two and four, inside the vehicle.
City officials in Oviedo have shared video footage of the blaze recorded by a nearby parked Tesla car.
The clip shows the fire beginning inside the car before quickly spreading, leading to the windows shattering and ferocious flames leaping out of the windows.
The two young children who were inside managed to escape thanks to the assistance of nearby shoppers who rushed to their aid.
Windows on the car shattered as the flames took hold
The youngsters in the car were able to escape after shoppers came to their rescue
The burned out shell of the car could be seen still in the parking lot of the mall
Authorities were on scene on Friday investigating as to how the blaze may have been started
Both children were injured in the blaze and taken to the hospital, with one suffering first-degree burns to their face and ears.
Moore is alleged to have dropped the stolen items as she fled from the mall.
She was later arrested and charged with of child neglect and arson.
