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12-Year-Old Boy Discovered Unaccompanied in Columbus-Area Target Store

In the early hours of a Monday morning, a surprising discovery was made at a Target store in Blacklick, Ohio. A 12-year-old boy was found alone inside the establishment before its doors officially opened for the day. This incident was promptly reported to the Columbus Division of Police around 6:15 a.m., with the store in question located at 8100 East Broad Street, close to Reynoldsburg. It was revealed that the young boy had spent the entire night by himself within the store’s confines.

Initially, there was some confusion regarding the boy’s age, with reports mistakenly identifying him as a 7-year-old. However, this was later corrected to confirm that he was indeed 12 years old. A Target employee stumbled upon the boy while preparing for the store’s opening at 8 a.m., leading to police involvement.

Upon discovery, the boy was entrusted to the care of Franklin County Children Services as authorities embarked on a mission to reunite him with his parents. It was uncovered that the boy’s parents had reported him missing on Sunday, the day before he was found. The police have since informed the parents of their son’s whereabouts, and arrangements have been made for them to collect him from the care of Franklin County Children Services.

The circumstances surrounding the boy’s arrival at the Target store, including how he managed to remain undetected until after the store had closed, remain a mystery at this point. Target has been approached for a statement regarding the incident.

This unusual event has caught the attention of the local community and beyond, prompting discussions and raising questions about child safety and store security measures. As the investigation continues, many are eagerly awaiting further details on how the boy ended up spending the night in the Target store and the steps that will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

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