Thursday, April 4, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Three boys ages 9, 10 and 13 were caught with a stolen truck after a joy ride through their northeast neighborhood.
Police confiscated bottles of lime-flavored sports drinks, a bag of M&Ms, a pack of Kool cigarettes and a burglary tool used to shatter car windows.
Despite the ages, Metro Police don't consider the act a childish prank.
"Unfortunately, they're going to grow up and probably commit crimes," said Sgt. Harold Davis, who responded to the call. "It's amazing how much the older boy knew about stealing cars."
A witness called police after he saw three school-age boys get into the cab of a blue Nissan pickup and drive from the 2900 block of Poplar Avenue on the north side of U.S. 95 Expressway about 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Sgt. Dave Braden was patrolling the area and saw the truck about half an hour later on 28th Street with a boy driving it, he said. He followed it and watched a boy park it in an apartment complex at Marlin Avenue and 28th, on the south side of U.S. 95.
Two fifth-graders and one seventh-grader were handcuffed as officers questioned them.
One boy's arms were so small that his wrists were put into a single cuff.
At times, the officers couldn't keep straight faces, sometimes smiling as they questioned the boys.
"They're so little," Braden said.
The officers asked the trio if they had been to juvenile hall before. The 10-year-old and 13-year-old said yes. The 9-year-old, who looked more worried than the other boys, said no.
Because they each told different stories, the boys were taken to juvenile hall, charged with auto theft.
An ignition key was found on the ground at the 10-year-old's feet after the boys said they didn't know where the key was. One boy told police they walked up to the truck and saw a key inside, so they took it. Police found a burglary tool in the 13-year-old's pocket.
"Book 'em," Braden said after the boys told their varied stories to officers. "Take them all in."
The oldest boy was put in the front seat of Braden's patrol car and the other two in the back seat of another officer's car.
The 10-year-old broke down in tears as he was escorted to the back seat.
"Now we see tears," one patrol officer told the boy. "All you had to do was tell us the truth."
Braden and Officer John Morath said he knew the boys from patrolling the neighborhood.
"They're little hoodlums," Braden said.
It's not the first time children have been caught by police stealing cars.
"Last week, we broke up a stolen-car ring of 13- and 15-year-olds," Braden noted.
But Davis said the trio caught Wednesday may be the youngest culprits.
"That's got to be a record," he said.
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