What happened to the child after he broke into the store?Comments 8 | Recommend 0
December 15, 2008 - 6:16 PM
Jennifer Heathcock
When police responded to a burglar alarm at about three this morning at a Family Dollar store, they didn't expect to find the culprit playing with toys.
Police say it appears family members of the four year old did nothing wrong, and were as surprised as police to learn the child had wandered away from home.
If police or relatives have any question about what happened next, they can find the answer on surveillance video.
"They checked the store and found a door unlocked, went inside to check for what they thought was a burglar," says Beaumont Police Officer Randy Stevens.
Police didn't find a burglar when they responded to an alarm at the Family Dollar store in the 5000 block of College Street, they discovered a 4-year-old boy, all alone inside the store.
"We're thinking the child came with family to the store and knew the toys were here," says Officer Stevens.
The child had to travel more than a block from his home on Chamberlin Drive to get to the store.
And cross 7 lanes of traffic at 3 A.M., just to reach the door.That's where video from a surveillance camera shows him opening an unlocked door, and walking right inside, past the cash register, to the toys.
"This 4 year old seems to be very smart, he was having a really great time at Family Dollar and the door was open, and that's good for that child," says Shari Pulliam with Child Protective Services.
"He seemed to be happy, wouldn't you be? Playing on the toy isle," says Officer Stevens.
Trucks, action figures, just about any toy a boy could want for Christmas, were all withiin his reach. But, police were more interested in finding his family.
"Started looking around the area to see if they could find parents, maybe looking for this child and weren't able to locate any," says Officer Stevens.
Police went back again and found the child's mother looking for him.
"He was very lucky and maybe we can say Saint Nick was looking out for him this time, but we need to make sure this doesn't happen again," says Pulliam.
Keeping him safe might mean getting a new lock, instead of a new toy for Christmas.
The family voluntarily placed the 4 year old boy and his brother with relatives while C.P.S. investigates.
Police say there have been several cases of children unlocking doors and getting out in the middle of the night.
Officer Crystal Holmes says about six years ago a three year old boy in a diaper and shirt left home in the middle of the night, decided he needed french fries, and was going to a McDonald's in Beaumont.
Officer Holmes says you can help keep your child safe inside your home by placing a chain lock or slide bolt high on the door, and by using a secondary lock on windows.
It might not keep out the bad guys, but it'll help keep your child inside.
