Boy Lived In Walmart Two Days, Built Secret Hideout Inside Store
A boy lived in Walmart for two days without being noticed by shoppers or employees, making himself two secret hideouts inside the Corsicana, Texas store. According to CBS affiliate KTVT, the 14-year-old boy was found hiding in the store after a trail of trash led employees to his home away from home.
The teen slept on a makeshift bed in the shelving behind stacks of paper towels and toilet paper. He managed to keep himself completely hidden from Walmart shoppers who were unaware that a runaway was living in the store. To make sure no one saw him when he needed to get a drink, he made a hole in the shelving behind one of his two hiding spots so he could reach through and get drinks from the next aisle.
His second hiding place was behind a group of strollers in the baby department. In this hideout, he stored clothing, food and even a fish that he took from the pet department.
Walmart employees called police when they found a pile of garbage, diaper boxes and several changes of clothing in different areas of the store. CNN reports that the teen changed his clothes every few hours to avoid being detected by shoppers and employees. Afraid of getting caught, the boy wore diapers so he could avoid using the public restrooms.
Customer Megan Nicholson was surprised that the boy lived in Walmart for two days without his family finding him sooner.
“I’m wondering what his parents think,” Nicholson told reporters, “and how come he didn’t come home, and why aren’t they worried about him.”
According to Corsicana police, the boy ended up in Walmart after running away from his aunt’s house where he was staying while his parents were out of town. Prior to getting a call from store employees, police had been looking for the boy for two days. His mother told police that this was not the first time her son ran away. In the past, he was found hiding inside businesses, a creek and abandoned houses near his home.
The boy was captured by police when he tried to run out of the Corsicana Walmart store. He was transported to a relative’s home until his parents returned to pick him up. Police chose not to alert Child Protective Services because the teen did not appear to be in any danger at home.
“In runaway cases it is not standard procedure to notify Child Protective Serves unless there is an indication the juvenile was a victim of possible abuse or neglect or was living in a dangerous environment,” Corsicana police told KTVT.
Although the boy lived in Walmart for two days and didn’t pay for the food or the merchandise he took, Walmart spokesman Brian Nick told CNN that charges were not going to be filed with the police.
“It seems to be a unique situation, for sure. Our concern was getting the child to safety,” Nick told CNN.
[Image via: KTVT ]
