Nine-year-old steals parent’s car to get to school
A 9-year-old boy driving his parent’s car briefly led the California Highway Patrol on a chase. When he was pulled over, the boy explained his reasoning for why he was behind the wheel: “I’m trying to get to school. (The Week, 4-12-2024, p. 6)
Boy & his cousin lead police on high-speed chase
In December of 2020, a 12-year-old boy in New York stole his parents range rover and took his 7-year-old cousin on a 5 hour joyride, with speeds that reached 100 miles per hour. When they were caught by police, the little girl was none too rattled. “Yeah, it was good,” she said. Her only complaint: “I wish I was driving.” (The Week, 12-25-2020, p. 6)
Stealing Grandma’s Car
In Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, police say an 8-year-old boy took the keys to his grandmother’s 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier from her coat and proceeded to drive the car down an embankment and into a creek. He was able to crawl out a window to safety and escaped without injury. (USA Today, 1-28-2010, 7A)
Catch me if you can – the elementary school version
In Tacoma, Washington, prosecutors were trying to get a judge to revoke a deferred prosecution agreement against a 10-year-old boy who stole a car and was then able to talk his way onto two separate flights before being caught in Texas. The boy apparently broke the agreement last week when he snuck out of his house and was caught trying to board a plane at Sea-Tac Airport. (USA Today, 6-6-2008, p. 8A)
Midnight Trips to the Store
In Ogden, Utah, an 8-year-old boy took his 5-year-old sister on a joy ride in the middle of the night and ended up crashing the family minivan. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. An officer noticed a vehicle that had run into a tree at around 2 a.m. and stopped to investigate. The young driver said that he needed to take his sister to the store. The kids were returned to their sleeping parents, according to Ogden police Lt. Danielle Croyle. (USA Today, 3-16-2012)
7-Year-Old Speedster
In Caseville, Michigan, a 7-year-old boy was charged with unlawful use of a vehicle after taking a car out for a joy ride and driving 20 miles, sometimes at speeds of up to 50 m.p.h. (USA Today, 6-23-2011, p. 3A)