TROTWOOD, Ohio -- Four young children have been taken away from the mother Wednesday night and into the protection of another family member.

Trotwood police said they found the kids inside the house alone with very little food.

Police said that they have checked on the house on Rio Grande three times in the past four months on a welfare check.

The four kids inside the house ranged from 2 to 10 years old, police said.

Police said the grandmother of the children claimed to be taking care of the kids at the time and just ran out to get some food, but they said the grandmother shows back up the house with no food in sight.

Carol Lannan, from Trotwood, said, “They are little and they can’t take care of themselves.”

The grandmother, Teresa Hill, 45, is facing a charge of child endangering, police said.