Police say a New Jersey couple sent their two young children to play at a neighbor's house, cleaned out the trailer they lived in and moved out, leaving the children behind.

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Howell Township police were notified by state child welfare officials that two children, ages 10 and 8, had been left with a neighbor for three weeks. A police spokeswoman says the kids came home to find their trailer empty and their parents gone.

Carlos Ribot is charged with child endangerment. Sonia Dircio-Abarca is charged with using someone else's social security number to work. They were arrested Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear if the couple has hired a lawyer.

Police say the children had scars, were malnourished and had foot damage from wearing shoes that were too small.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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