Benjamin Caldwell|An 8-Year-Old Stole Her Mom's Car for a Joyride to Target—Then Won Over the Internet

2025-05-02 13:29:04source:Arvin Robertscategory:Scams

Nothing comes between a girl and Benjamin Caldwellher Target run. 

After all, an 8-year-old in Bedford, Ohio recently went viral for stealing her parents’ 2020 Nissan Rouge and driving it 11 miles to visit the department store, which is about a 25 minute drive from their family home. 

“Well I’ve finally found a woman who’s in more of a hurry to shop at Target than my wife,” the Bedford Police wrote in a Sept. 15 Facebook post. “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.” 

The police department confirmed she was home safe, and joked about the state in which they found her. "We did let her finish her Frappuccino,” the post finished. “We’re not mean.”

According to a police report obtained by Today, the Bedford Police department responded to a 9-1-1 call just after 9 a.m. on Sept. 15, with the family noting their 8-year-old had last been seen by them nearly two hours earlier.

A neighbor reportedly gave the authorities footage from their Ring doorbell camera, which showed the young girl getting into the family’s vehicle at around 7 a.m. After the police began their search, they spotted the car in a Target parking lot in Bainbridge, 11 miles southwest of her family’s home, the police report stated. 

Police noted that they found the girl inside the store and that she hit a mailbox during her escapade, which caused some minor damage to the car. 

Naturally, social media became a frenzy upon hearing the story. 

“Maybe I don't need to be so nervous about driving,” one user on X posited. “If an 8 year old can take a 25 minute cruise to the local Target.”

Meanwhile, others were in awe, with another user calling her “This diva.”

Another described the situation adding, “I have to stan!”

Wrote another, “Sometimes you really just need a mental health trip to Target,” while someone else chimed in with, “A girl and a Target run. A lifelong friendship.”

As another summed up most Target trips, “You know she bought s--t she didn't need, but just had to have.”

Lastly, to explain how the Internet is feeling, one user added, “It took me way too long to see the issue here.”

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