8-Point Buck Prances Through Target Store

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Store security cameras catch some pretty bold crooks.

The intruder caught on a surveillance camera at a Target store in Des Moines was a deer.

On Tuesday afternoon, alongside Christmas garland and holiday lights, Target attracted a real-life Rudolph. At 4:30 p.m., it found the store's automatic door.

"He waited for it, ran in, waited for the next door to open up, then came moseying into the store," said Target store manager, Greg Willey.

The eight-point buck slid across the store's shiny floors and bolted to the back toward the Christmas section.

"We kind of thought it was a joke, but then we heard, no, really, there's a buck in soft lines," said Target worker Katie Johnson.

Customers retreated while workers moved in. They gave a play by play of the action over the store's loudspeaker system in an effort to keep the customers safe.

"Of course, we're not really trained in deer herding," Willey said.

As employees coaxed him toward the door, the deer made a dash at Johnson.

"I wasn't anticipating to see such a large deer, plus the rack on his head. I was ... whoa," Johnson said.

Right in front of the Xboxes, the deer slipped.

"I leaned in, thinking -- I don't know what I was thinking. I was trying to help maybe, be guest-friendly and help out," Johnson said.

As the buck ran past the long line of cash registers, customers continued checking out their items.

After more than 10 minutes, a dozen Target employees had the buck corralled back in the dairy section, when somebody opened the fire door and Johnson helped shoo him out.

"I basically stood here and said, "OK, please don't turn right," she said.

The buck then scampered away.

After visiting every corner of the Target, the deer didn't disturb one Christmas ornament or leave anything behind.

"Yeah, it was comical," Johnson said.