A 21-year-old mother was arrested and her two small children taken from her, after the kids were found wandering around their neighborhood for the third time in a month while their mother slept.

Deputies from the Newton County Sheriff's Office were called to Sable Circle around 9 a.m. Thursday when a neighbor noticed that a 2-year-old and 3-year-old were wandering in the street with no adult in sight.

When deputies arrived the boys were still out. They were able to find where the children lived and went to the home where the door was unlocked and open, according to NCSO Lt. Tyrone Oliver.

Deputies announced themselves several times as they went through the home. When they came to the master bedroom they found Brittany Spikes asleep in bed. Since it was the third time in a month this had happened, Spikes was arrested and charged with cruelty to children and the Department of Children and Family Services was notified.

The two boys were turned over to other family members and Spikes was turned over to the Newton County Detention Center.