10-year-old runaway drives stolen car 32 km
From Mainichi Daily News
KUSATSU, Shiga -- A 10-year-old boy who stole a car and single-handedly drove it 32 kilometers after running away from home has been apprehended, police said.
Police received an emergency call at about 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, saying a child was driving a car in Kusatsu.
Officers who raced to the area spotted the vehicle traveling along a prefectural road. They ordered it to stop using a loudspeaker, and apprehended a 10-year-old boy inside as he was trying to move from the driver's seat to the passenger seat.
The fifth-year elementary school student admitted having stolen the car from an area of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, on Saturday evening. He apparently had not eaten anything since Saturday.
"I decided to run away from home," the 10-year-old was quoted as saying.
Police officers expressed surprise at the age of the driver.
Where does one start with this story. How about what do you think the insurance adjustor is going to say to guy who left his keys in the ignition for a long enough time that a 10 year could steal the car? Or how about, were giving junior those go-cart lesson really such a swell idea?
