BOSTON -- A Hull father appeared in Quincy District Court Wednesday morning on charges he broke into the Red Parrot restaurant on Nantasket Beach after leaving his two young children at home alone.

Kenneth Hammonds was arrested about 3 a.m. Wednesday at the beach bar. Police said Hammonds thought he had cut the alarm wire but had actually cut the cable TV. Police said he had left his two small children home alone so that he could allegedly go commit the felony.

"This just goes off the radar. We're talking about a 9-month-old infant sound asleep in a crib and a 3-year-old. The good news is that they were sound asleep," Hull Police Department Chief Richard Billings said.

It's not clear how long the children were left home alone. Police said living conditions inside the house were deplorable.

"It wasn't just a messy household with toys all over the place. There were used diapers. The turkey was still out on the table," Billings said.

The state Office of Children, Youth and Family Services took the children into custody after it was learned their mother was traveling outside the state.

Neighbors said they are in disbelief.

"I'm surprised. I mean, maybe they're not the neatest people in the world, but I always thought they were good parents," neighbor Melinda Powell said.

Hammonds was held on $10,000 bail and ordered to return to court on Dec. 30.