Missing 12-year-old boy, thought to be a runaway, found locked up alone overnight in Target: officials

A missing 12-year-old boy was found locked inside an Ohio Target, where he had somehow been left to roam alone overnight.

The unidentified boy was reported missing in Columbus on Sunday morning — then found inside the east side Target by the staffer opening up just after 6 a.m. Monday, officials told WCMH .

“Our team immediately contacted law enforcement upon finding this child and cared for him until authorities arrived,” Target said in a statement.

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It was not immediately clear exactly how long the boy had been there — but it was at least since 10 p.m. the previous night, eight hours before he was found, officials told the Columbus Dispatch.

“How did they not find him last night when they were trying to close the store?” one unidentified shopper asked ABC 6 of the “crazy” scenario.

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The boy, thought to be a runaway, was being reunited with his parents, who “are happy that he is safe and that he will be returning home shortly,” Columbus police spokeswoman Jennifer Watson told the Columbus Dispatch.

There were no reports that the boy was injured and the store opened as usual after the rescue.

No charges will be filed, police said.

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