DETROIT -- The grandmother of three small children who were found home alone on Thursday took the children in on Friday.

The children were taken from their Detroit home Thursday morning after police found them alone.

The children, ages 4, 2 and 1, told police they had been by themselves for at least three days.

They were discovered when the 4-year-old went to a neighbor's home and said they were hungry.

"The (children's) house is just nasty. That's all I can say, nasty," said a female neighbor who asked not to be identified.

"I heard the baby crying when I went over there," the neighbor said. "I changed the baby's diaper and fed them something to eat."

The neighbor also called police, who arrived a short time later and removed the children from the home.

"Actually, it's heart-breaking," said Detroit Deputy Police Chief Chester Logan. "We're going to make the best of the situation and make sure these kids are taken care of."

According to the neighbor, the stove was left on and clothes were thrown all over the home. "The bathroom was flooded, water running over the tub. I tried to turn it off, but I couldn't," she said.

The neighbor said she also found a broken jelly jar and crackers on the floor of the home.

"I got a little teary-eyed when they took the kids, but I think it's the best thing to do," the neighbor said. "If the parents don't care ... I don't understand. Why would you do kids like that and leave them at home?"

The neighbor said she was not sure about the children's father, but she did recall seeing a man at the home from time to time.

Detroit police have turned the case over to the Child Abuse Unit.

As of Thursday night, police still had not heard from the mother.