ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Two Albany mothers have been charged with reckless conduct after police say they left three young children home alone, with one child found walking by herself on Cherry Avenue around 1 a.m. on Feb. 27.

The Albany Police Department (APD) said officers responded to the area and found a 5-year-old walking alone. Police said the child had been walking from her father’s house on Cotton Avenue, where people were “trying to get her.” When officers went to the home, they found three young children there without adult supervision.

Cotton Avenue is about four blocks away from Cherry Avenue, where the child was found.

Authorities later determined that Ka’Mia Haynes and Jakizney Young had left the children alone while they went out.

APD Chief Michael Persley said the situation should serve as a reminder to all caregivers.

“You cannot leave children unattended. I don’t care if you’re just running to the store. I don’t care if you’re going around the corner. If you have young children, someone needs to [watch them]. Someone—a responsible person needs to be watching. If you don’t have that, then you stay there and you watch your children,” Persley said.

Police said the children are now with other family members. Authorities are reminding anyone who cares for young children to ensure they are supervised before leaving home.

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