Deputies: 11-Year-Old Steals Car, Takes It On A Joyride
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POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – An 11-year-old is in trouble with the law, charged with stealing the car of a disabled, 64-year-old woman and taking it on a joy ride.
The victim, Sarah Jones, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that she is stranded without the car and had counted on it to take her to much-needed doctor's appointments.
Jones wept as she said, "It means a lot to me. It was the only thing I had. This was the second time my Corolla was taken but the first time it was wrecked for goo. I counted on it to take me to medical appointments for my sciatica and back pain and severe headaches. I can't get around without my cane. I feel like the world has dropped out on me.
"My family is not able to help me with getting around and I don't know what I am going to do. I have insurance but I don't know what I am going to get, what my deductible is and how long a replacement will take. And this is the second time that kids in the area took my car.
"I feel bad. What is going on with these kids? What is going on with their parents? What are they doing? They are robbing people up and down the neighborhood like this is the Wild West. This is crazy. I want my car back it I also want intervention for these kids. They need help. These aren't just teenagers. A lot of them are 10 and 11 years old. These are little kids going on a rampage. And what am I going to do? I live alone and I need help. I just need a car."
The child, who will remain unidentified to protect his identity, totaled the vehicle, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
The elderly victim told police a neighbor knocked on her door Tuesday morning to let her know the child was stealing her car.
"They told me it was the kids again who have been victimizing people all over the neighborhood up and down the streets," said Jones.
Once the child reportedly took her vehicle, he crashed it into a concrete pillar and rod iron gate near NW 25th Ave and NW 13th Street.
The crash left Jones's car totaled, deputies said.
That's when the child fled the scene of the crash and ran to his school.
When he arrived at school, school officials were able to contact his mother and the authorities.
Deputies took the child into custody.
The child was able to show deputies where he left the vehicle.
D'Oench also spoke with the boy's father who said "I don't know what happened. I don't know."
"You believe he's a good kid?" the father was asked.
"Yeah he's a good kid," said the father. "But I don't want to say anything else."
The father then went inside the family's home.
The 11-year-old has since been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a crash.
He will face a Judge in court on Wednesday.