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Society
Photo: DPA

Boy, 11, disappears after stealing parents' van

Published: 21 Nov 12 17:14 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20121121-46315.html

An 11-year-old German boy disappeared on Tuesday after stealing his foster parents' minivan and driving nearly 100 kilometres to Hamburg, it was reported on Wednesday after police found the vehicle.

Hamburg police found the white Mercedes minivan parked blocking the entrance to a cemetery in the Bilstedt area of the city. The child, who has been identified only as Jeremie, was nowhere to be found.

Helicopters have been sent out to search nearby forest areas, as Jeremie's foster parents told officers that they thought he could be hiding among the trees. The parents did not say why, the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper reported.

This was not the first time that Jeremie has run away from his foster parents, nor is it the first time that he has stolen a car. A prior incident ended in him crashing a vehicle, also en route to Hamburg.

Police said they believed Jeremie had planned his escape from his home town of Lübtheen in Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania, waiting until his guardians' backs were turned to grab their minivan keys.

Police said the boy is 1.5 metres tall and strong, for an 11-year-old.

The Local/jcw

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

18:28 November 22, 2012 by raandy
He has most likely sold the van and is hanging out on the reeperbahn.
18:43 November 23, 2012 by almorr
This boy is just looking for adventure, next he will be travelling around the world. I just hope he is found safe and well.
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