My question, where the hell were the parents?

[unclejimbo]

Boy, 4, breaks into Texas store, plays with toys

BEAUMONT, Texas—Police called to a variety store by a burglar alarm overnight found a toddler inside, playing with the toys. Police said store surveillance video showed the unidentified boy trying to open one of the front doors to a Family Dollar store about 3 a.m. Monday, only to find it locked. But the second door was unlocked and the child went inside.

That triggered the silent alarm.

Detective Randy Stevens said the child apparently unlocked a door at his nearby home, got out, then crossed a multilane street to reach the store.

A canvass of the neighborhood turned up a family member searching for the child.

CPS spokeswoman Shari Pulliam said Child Protective Services claimed oversight of a 4-year-old boy during a review of the incident. The boy will be allowed to stay with other relatives, not the parents, during the CPS review period.


How did he get out and what was he doing up at 3-4 AM in the first place. I hope this is a big wake up call for his parents. this could have ended so badly... the little boy seemed to be very happy to see grown ups on the video.

The video is also available on Yahoo. ,a href="http://www.yahoo.com/s/1002927">Here's the Link

Comments

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

The way the little boy went to the policemen looked like he was begging for a hug/to be picked up. That brought me to tears.

As to how did he get out, it's likely a case of a door not being locked (properly) at his home.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

And toddlers do wander when they wake up in the middle of the night. And they DO wake up in the middle of the night.

We lock doors. And we check them before going to sleep. Buuuut - we'll also have to make sure the kid doesn't unlock them as he gets older, neh?

[manycolored.livejournal.com]

You can install all manner of locks at grownup heights, requiring grownup strength, maybe a combination lock? But until the kid breaks out for the first time, how do you even know you need to go to those lengths?

[drlaurac.livejournal.com]

We got an alarm for this very reason. We can set it so that it will beep when any door is opened (or go off full scale...)