Stolen car held three young children; woman arrested, children safe, say Fla. police

(CBS) MIAMI - A Miami-Dade judge has denied bond for a woman who reportedly stole a car with three children inside from in front of a mini-mart on Monday, CBS Miami reported.

Velan Verdier, 33, is charged with kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment of a child, grand theft and robbery. Police say she stole five dollars from one of the children.

It all began about 2:30 Monday afternoon when 34-year old Anthony Milhomme picked up his five year old son Anthony, his six year old daughter Kaila and his six year old nephew Isaiah Paul from Morningside Elementary School.

According to CBS Miami, on the way home, Milhomme decided to stop at a nearby mini-mart. He left the kids in the car with the engine running, according to Miami police spokesman Det. Willie Moreno.

When he returned the car and three kids were gone.

Milhomme's gray 2005 Ford 500 and the children were located several blocks from the mini-mart. A passerby noticed the car and called police, who then conducted a traffic stop, Moreno said.

Verdier was taken into custody. The three kids were found safe inside the vehicle and were taken back to the original crime scene to be reunited with their mother and other family members.

"It was scary," said 6-year old Kaila Millhomme. "A lady got in."

Milhomme, 34, was also taken into custody and charged with neglect and resisting an officer, CBS Miami reported.

The children went to school on Tuesday, but didn't make it through the morning.

"They called me from school to come pick them up," said the children's grandmother Elisna Milhomme. ""They don't feel good."

The family of the shaken kids said they don't believe Verdier meant to take the children or hurt them; she just wanted the car.