12-year-old boy takes parents’ car and goes on a 5-hour, multi-state joyride with 7 year old cousin – outruns state trooper

(Meredith) — A social media challenge may have inspired a 12-year-old boy to take his 7-year-old cousin on a 100-mile joyride.

Police spent hours on Monday searching for the kids, who traveled from New York to the New Jersey-Delaware border in a Range Rover.

Someone reported the children missing around 9 a.m. in Queens.

Investigators said surveillance video showed the 12-year-old boy took the keys to a white Range Rover before he and his 7-year-old cousin drove off.

Police used an electronic toll collection system and license plate readers to track the vehicle on the Verrazano Bridge, which connects Brooklyn and Staten Island, around 11 a.m.

New Jersey State Troopers later spotted the SUV and flashed sirens to get it to stop — but the boys sped off.

Authorities eased off the pursuit for the safety of the children. At 2:15 p.m., police said the 12-year-old used his dad’s credit card to buy cookies at a rest stop.

The credit card was flagged, and the kids were apprehended.

It turns out the 100-mile joyride may have been inspired by a social media challenge — taking a car and driving it until it runs out of gas.

Police are withholding the children’s names because they are minors.

The two cousins were taken to an area hospital for a check-up, then to the local police precinct for questioning before being reunited with their family.

via: https://www.kmov.com/news/12-year-old-boy-takes-parents-car-and-goes-on-a-5-hour-multi-state/article_aafa3893-1783-58df-b9ff-c69a8db6fede.html

Photo Credit: kmov.com