A routine license plate alert in a small Ohio suburb spiraled into a startling police chase when officers realized the suspected car thief behind the wheel wasn’t even a teenager.
Newburgh Heights police were stunned Saturday when a stolen white Hyundai sedan flagged on a license plate reader — and an 11-year-old was found driving it, with two other children along for the ride, according to the New York Post.
Authorities said the three juveniles, ages 8, 11, and 12, later admitted they had taught themselves how to steal cars by watching YouTube videos. Investigators determined the group used a hotwire method to get the vehicle running, according to 3News.
Newburgh Heights Police Chief John Majoy said the moment stood out even in a long law enforcement career.
“This has got to be a record for the youngest driver in a pursuit that I’ve ever seen,” Majoy said, according to 3News.
“11 years old, for God’s sake, that’s incredible,” he added.
An officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop shortly after the stolen vehicle was detected. Instead of pulling over, the young driver accelerated and fled, prompting a brief pursuit through the neighborhood.
The chase ended abruptly when the driver took a sharp turn, lost control, and slammed the car into the side of a house.
“A big, you know, bang and a lot of noise,” homeowner Daniel Reilly told 3News, recalling the moment the vehicle struck his home while he was inside watching television.
After the crash, the children jumped out and ran, but they didn’t get far. A nearby officer chased them down and ordered them to the ground at gunpoint, unaware at first just how young the suspects were.
Bodycam footage captured the fear and panic that followed.
“Please,” one child pleaded through sobs as the officer issued commands.
“My mama, I’m sorry,” the child said.
The children also begged police to call their parents. Once the officer realized the suspects were kids, he thanked them for complying but instructed them to remain on the ground until backup arrived and their parents were notified.
No one was injured in the incident, despite the crash and pursuit. The children are expected to face charges in juvenile court.
Reilly said the episode was a sobering reminder of how dangerous the situation could have become.
“I don’t know if the kids are old enough to even realize that, you know, [they are not] just putting their like their lives in danger, but other innocent people who are just going about their day,” he said.
“Life lesson here, that it’s not, you know, it’s not Grand Theft Auto, it’s not a game. It’s real life.”
