Police: 5-year-old left alone in hotel room while mom gambled in Conn. casino

(CBS/WCBS) NEW YORK - A New York City mother was behind bars Thursday after police say she left her 5-year-old son alone in a Connecticut hotel room while she went to gamble.

According to CBS New York, Wu Xiao Xu had left her cell phone number on the nightstand with instructions for her son not to open the door for anyone, when she went to try her luck at the Mohegan Sun casino.

When the boy woke up from a nap to find himself alone he called 9-1-1, telling emergency operators he couldn't read the note, CBS New York reports.

Xu was reportedly arrested and charged with risk of injury to a minor. According to prosecutors, she told them she "felt that there was nothing wrong with what she had done."

Federal Immigration officials said Xu is in the country illegally, according to CBS New York. Xu's son reportedly was placed in protective custody.

Police said there is an outstanding warrant for Xu's arrest in North Carolina for possession of counterfeit handbags and shoes, the station also reports.