A great scare for motorists and quite a surprise for the police.
An 11-year-old boy was found this Thursday March 7 at the wheel of a BMW X5 which was towing a caravan on a motorway near Thirsk, around 40 kilometers from York (United Kingdom).
North Yorkshire Police arrested the boy on suspicion of theft, burglary and road traffic offenses including dangerous driving, they said in a statement released on Friday.
Officers were notified at around 3.30pm on Thursday that a caravan had been stolen from a holiday resort and that the vehicle towing it was a black BMW.
With the description of the car, police quickly spotted the caravan heading towards the M1 motorway.
The vehicle used was also equipped with false registration plates.
“We absolutely didn’t expect it”
“We stopped the vehicle on the M1 after it left the A1 at the Hook Moor interchange, near Garforth,” police detailed in their press release, emphasizing that the arrest had only taken place 45 minutes after the theft was reported.
“But we absolutely did not expect to find a young boy sitting behind the wheel.”
By searching the vehicle, the police also discovered tools used for burglaries (without detailing which ones), but also several false license plates.
The 11-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of theft, burglary and traffic violations.
He was questioned and released on bail, while the investigation continues.
VIDEO.
United States: 5-year-old arrested while driving on highway
The owners of the trailer were informed that it had been found, and no one was injured by the boy during his escape with the vehicle.