BEDFORD, Ohio (AP) — An 8-year-old girl took an SUV from her Ohio home and drove for miles to a store where she was later found unharmed, authorities said.
The girl, whose name was not released, and the vehicle — a 2020 Nissan Rogue — were reported missing around 9 a.m. Sunday, Bedford police said. Family members said they had last seen the girl at the residence about two hours earlier.
As police launched an investigation, they learned a small child had been spotted driving a vehicle on a nearby road, but that vehicle could not be located. The SUV eventually was found a short time later in the parking lot of a Target store in Bainbridge, which is nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) from her home.
Police soon found the child by herself inside the store. She told officers she had struck a mailbox while driving, but nothing else. Authorities did not say why she had decided to travel to the store or provide further details about her trip.
Bedford Police in Ohio posted on Facebook: “Well I’ve finally found a woman who’s in more of a hurry to shop at Target than my wife. More of hurry by 8 years. That’s right an 8 year old took mommy’s car this morning and drove to Target in Bainbridge to shop.
“Thankfully she made it and was immediately located by Bainbridge Police. She’s now home safe. Not sure what she bought, or if she was even able to use her Target app to save 5%. We did let her finish her Frappuccino. We’re not mean.”
The girl is too young to be charged criminally, police said. It wasn’t clear Monday if any charges would be filed in the matter, which remains under investigation.
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