Traveller Boy, 12, on Run After Driving BMW X5 with Stolen Caravan in 40-Mile Ordeal

​In a startling incident, North Yorkshire Police apprehended an 11-year-old boy driving a BMW X5 towing a suspected stolen caravan on the M1 motorway. The event unfolded on March 7, 2024, when authorities received a report around 3:30 PM about a caravan theft from a holiday site near Thirsk. The caravan was reportedly being towed by a black BMW X5 with cloned registration plates. Officers tracked the vehicle traveling south on the A1 and intercepted it approximately 45 minutes later after it exited the A1 at the Hook Moor Interchange near Garforth. ​

Upon stopping the vehicle, officers were “staggered” to find an 11-year-old boy behind the wheel. A subsequent search of the car revealed equipment typically used for thefts and a selection of vehicle registration plates. The boy was arrested on suspicion of several offenses, including theft, burglary, going equipped for theft, and motoring offenses such as dangerous driving. He was later questioned and released on conditional police bail pending further inquiries.

This incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing crimes involving minors and highlights the importance of community vigilance in reporting suspicious activities promptly