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Police: Mother Arrested After 5 Children Are Left Inside Hot Car In Placentia

PLACENTIA (CBSLA.com) — A 36-year-old mother of five was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment after she left her children inside a hot vehicle, police said Monday.

Rhonda Colgrove of Oregon was arrested Sunday in front of a 99 Cents store on East Yorba Linda Boulevard.

A witness called police just before 11 a.m., when Colgrove's four boys were seen running around the parking lot.

Upon their arrival, officers found a 2-year-old boy locked inside the car.

Colgrove left the store and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of child endangerment. She was released on a citation.

A preliminary investigation revealed she left her five children in the car while she went into the store.

Colgrove claimed she left her 6-year-old son in charge while she shopped.

The children were placed in protective custody at the Orangewood Children's Home in Orange.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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