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GASTONIA, N.C. -- Gastonia Police were called to the Target on South New Hope Road on Sunday on a report that two small children were locked inside a hot car with no air conditioning and only the windows cracked.

Saturday's temperatures were in the 90s with humidity that made it feel like 100 degrees.

"They were very hot, soaked with sweat,” said Gastonia Police Department Sgt. Mike Lari. “It just blows our mind that people can do that, leave their children out in the heat like that."

Lari said the mother told police the girls were sleeping and she was only running in for one thing, taking only 10 minutes. But officers said that's not the case.

"She was actually in the store for 30 minutes,” Lari said. “She said she was going in to buy a baby gate however she picked out over $170 worth of items.”

Alison Matthews, 26, is charged with misdemeanor child abuse. We tried to contact her to ask her about the allegations, but she could not be reached.

A good Samaritan is credited with rescuing the girls. Police said she heard the children screaming and convinced the older child to unlock the door. She placed the two in her car until EMS arrived.

Gastonia Police said the Gaston County Social Services was notified. They say both girls are doing fine.