EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
A 10-year-old Evansville boy is home safe Friday night after being missing since Thursday.
Police believe they may have found him sooner, but his mother thought she had to wait 24 hours before calling police.
So, what are the rules on reporting someone missing?
TV shows have caused some confusion here. We did a Facebook poll and the majority of people said you should wait 24 hours, while fewer people said you should call right away.
Those who said to call right away are right.
The 10-year-old boy didn't return to his Jackson Street home last night, but it wasn't until Friday that his mom called police.
"She was under the false belief that she had to wait 24 hours to notify law enforcement that the kid was missing," said Sgt. Jason Cullum with EPD.
Police say if they were called last night, they would have begun a search immediately.
"There's not an actual rule that says you have to wait 24 hours to do anything. As soon as somebody is missing, at least call us and let us decide how to proceed," Cullum told 14 News.
Yet, you would be surprised on how many people think there's a 24 hour rule.
Only 1 of 3 people we talked with at the Fall Festival knew to call police right away.
"I just know you're supposed to wait, they say you have to wait 24 hours," said resident Aaron McCraw.
"It depends on if it's a child or an adult," answered resident Ed Mason.
"If someone I knew came up missing, I'd call right away," said resident Randy Wolfe.
We couldn't find a single law enforcement agency in our viewing area who said the 24 hour waiting rule was real.
"As far as I can tell, the only place I've seen that is on television," said Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Lt. Doug Daza.
Police say whether a missing person is an adult or child makes a big difference on the action officers take, but either way, they want to be informed ASAP.
"Every hour that goes by that we're not in the loop is an hour that person may be in danger, and it may be that much harder when we do get involved," said Cullum.
As for the 10-year-old boy originally missing, we are told there was no indication of an abduction. He is considered unharmed and safe at home.
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Only 1 of 3 people we talked with at the Fall Festival knew to call police right away.
