An 8-year-old girl returned home safely after taking her mother’s car and driving it to a nearby Target in Ohio, police said Sunday, and her journey to the store was captured on dashcam footage.
The girl, who has not been identified, was enjoying a Frappuccino when she was located by police, Bedford police said in a Facebook post.
“I finally found a woman who is in a bigger hurry than my wife to shop at Target,” Bedford police said in a Facebook post. “She is in a bigger hurry than 8 years. That’s right, an 8-year-old girl got in her mom’s car this morning and drove to Target in Bainbridge to shop.”
Video: 8-year-old’s run to Target caught on camera
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The girl was found safe and sound, but she hit a mailbox
Police found the 8-year-old girl after family members reported her and her mother’s 2020 Nissan Rogue missing shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, according to a Bedford police report. Ring camera footage captured by the neighbor’s security camera showed the girl “got into the SUV and drove away” around 7 a.m. with “no one but herself,” according to the police report. Police also received a call about a small child driving a vehicle matching the description.
A video of the girl’s driving shows the SUV constantly swerving and changing lanes as it travels down the road.
The girl was not injured during her ride, but told officers she “hit a mailbox,” according to the police report. Police found damage to the vehicle.
Girl Caught Drinking Frappuccino In Store
The vehicle was eventually found in the Target parking lot, about 25 minutes from the girl’s home. The girl, meanwhile, was found inside the store and her family members went to the Bainbridge store to pick her up, according to the police report.
It’s unclear if she purchased anything or “if she was able to use her Target app to save 5 percent,” but police said she “let her finish her Frappuccino.” It’s also unclear how she paid for her drink.
“We are not bad guys,” Bedford police said in their message.
Saman Shafiq is a trends reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: 8-year-old drives to Target in mom’s SUV: Watch dashcam video
