Woman arrested after police say she stole an SUV with sleeping girl inside

A woman was arrested Thursday and charged with grand theft of a vehicle after Hialeah police detectives say she stole an SUV with a sleeping 10-year-old inside.

The girl was later found and she is back with her parents.

The car, stolen from Torres Tires at 2851 Okeechobee Rd. around 6:30 a.m., was abandoned in Hialeah Gardens with the girl still inside.

Police later arrested Lissette Dopico, 33, who has a history of arrests on charges including armed robbery, home invasion, burglary, grand theft, domestic violence and child neglect.

Police say Dopico took the keys from the center consul and drove away without knowing there was a child inside. When she realized there was a child in the backseat she “panicked and dropped the off the car and the child” near her mother’s home, police said.

Dopico’s mother then called police.

Police said Dopico could only be charged with grand theft of the car because “there is no evidence she intended to abduct the child or even knew the child was in the car at the time.”

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 9:43 AM with the headline "Woman arrested after police say she stole an SUV with sleeping girl inside."