ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Two women were arrested after two 5-year-olds were found abandoned in a shed, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said they received a phone call early Saturday from a concerned citizen who told them that two young children had been abandoned in Waldo.

The sheriff’s office went to the 13500 block of Northeast US Highway 301 and met two witnesses who said they found the 5-year-olds inside the shed.

Witnesses told deputies that the children had been locked inside the shed with a brick placed against the door to prevent them from leaving.

The shed had no electricity or running water. The children were left without food or a way to call for help.

The sheriff’s office said a large knife was also found within the children’s reach.

According to deputies, 37-year-old Tamara Stoiber had left the children in 59-year-old Sabine Thrift’s care; however, Thrift allegedly refused to watch them.

Stoiber reportedly told law enforcement officers that she had only stepped away for a quick errand, but was gone for several hours.

Thrift was arrested and charged with two counts of child neglect.

Deputies said Stoiber had left the children “without adequate supervision or basic necessities, including food, water, and access to a phone.”

Stoiber was charged with two counts of child neglect and two counts of false imprisonment.

“The safety and well-being of children remain a top priority for our agency. We are committed to protecting children from neglect and abuse, and we encourage the community to report any concerns involving child welfare. Together, we can help ensure every child has a safe environment to grow and thrive,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.