A mother from Florida has been arrested after she was caught sneaking into a neighbor’s house this week in an attempt to steal her neighbor’s babies.
According to police with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, 28-year-old Hannah Braun was caught on video during the break-in. Braun was alleged to steal a 9-month-old who lived at the home.
Elroy Reynolds, another neighbor, claimed that Braun went to his house first on Tuesday. Fox 13 reported how Reynolds was home about 2 in the morning when Braun attempted to enter his home. Thankfully, he was able to force her out and watched as she went to the front door of another neighbor’s home.
Thelma Reynolds confirmed to WFLA how Braun was caught trying to take away her 1-year-old grandson.
“She wanted the baby. She said she was taking care of babies here. And that’s what she wanted,” she said. “She wanted this baby.”
At their other neighbor’s door, Braun was greeted by a 12-year-old girl.
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Footage of Braun at the front door of the house was captured by a Ring home security camera with Braun holding her phone in her hand as she knocked.
The girl then welcomed Braun into the home at about 2:15 a.m. and when Braun spotted the infant, she attempted to grab the baby from the older girl’s arms but the girls’ mother, Amber, was able to stop her.
“It’s me,” she can be heard saying. “It’s me, Momma, Hannah.”
Braun allegedly told her that she was trying to “protect” the baby.
“She’s standing in my living room, talking about, yah, I’m just here to get the baby. I’m trying to protect the baby,” Amber recalled to WFLA. “I’m like protect the baby? Why are you in my house?”
And when police arrived, they found that Braun had left two young children who were younger than age 5 at home when she went to her neighbors’ houses. The arrest report stated that one of the children told police “she lost her mommy” and was scared.
It is not clear what Braun’s motive may have been for the two alleged break-ins. The arrest report also did not indicate if drugs or alcohol were involved.
Police said Braun refused to cooperate with them and did not share a statement. She faces charges of attempted kidnapping, burglary with assault or battery, child abuse, and two counts of neglect of a child without great bodily harm and is in jail on $145,000 bond.