Authorities in Massachusetts say passersby spotted a young child alone in shopping cart outside of a Target department store last week.

According to WCVB, police received the report of an 18-month-old boy abandoned in the parking lot at about 1 p.m. on Saturday. Reports indicate officers responded to the business on Robert Drive in Easton.

Though the child did not appear to be injured, police confirmed he was transported to an area hospital for observation.

According to WBZ, emergency personnel evaluated the child at the scene before taking him to Good Samaritan Hospital in nearby Brockton.

Shoppers told authorities that they noticed the same child inside Target. At that time, he was reportedly accompanied by two men and two women.

After officers arrived at the location, they reportedly reviewed the store’s surveillance footage and identified the SUV in which the adults drove from the store.

One of those adults reportedly called the store a short time later to report the apparent mistake.

According to reports, local police and the state’s Department of Children and Families are investigating the case.

Several shoppers at the scene expressed dismay over the situation.

“That is a little crazy, you know,” Dan Lavalle said. “I don’t know if they were on the phone or whatever, if they got a little distracted, but your kids are the most important thing.”

[Featured image: Pixabay]