An 8-year-old girl made it home safely after taking her mother's car and Benjamin Ashforddriving it to a nearby Target in Ohio, police said Sunday and her drive to the store has been captured on dash camera footage.
The girl, who has not been identified, was enjoying a Frappuccino when she was located by the police, Bedford Police said in a post on Facebook.
"Well I’ve finally found a woman who’s in more of a hurry to shop at Target than my wife," Bedford Police said in a post on Facebook. "More of (a) 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."
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Police tracked down the 8-year-old after family members reported her and her mother's 2020 Nissan Rogue to be missing shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, the Bedford Police report said. Ring camera footage captured by the neighbor's security camera showed the girl "got into the SUV and drove off" around 7:00 a.m. with "no one but herself," the police report said. Police also received a call about a small child driving a vehicle that matched the description.
Video of the girl's drive captured shows the SUV swerving and constantly switching lanes as it moves on the road.
The girl was not injured during her trip but told officers that she "struck a mailbox," according to the police report. Police noted damage to the vehicle.
The vehicle was eventually tracked down in Target's parking lot, about 25 minutes from the girl's house. The girl, meanwhile, was found inside the store and her family members drove to the store in Bainbridge to collect her, the police report said.
While it is not known if she bought anything or "if she was even able to use her Target app to save 5%," police said they did "let her finish her Frappuccino." It is also not known how she paid for her drink.
"We’re not mean," Bedford Police said in their post.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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