Getaway car driver only 11

An 11-year-old boy was used as a getaway driver in a stolen car for a group of teens who allegedly tried to rob a dairy and petrol station customer.

The vehicle, which had been stolen from Whanganui on Thursday, was stopped by officers in Pa¯ tea following two failed robbery attempts.

Detective Sergeant Byron Reid said police had been alerted to the group – a male and female aged 17, an

11-year-old male and a

14-year-old female – by the public.

‘‘They’ve, the two

17-years-olds, gone to the Bridge Dairy where they’ve attempted to rob it while armed with knives,’’ Reid said. ‘‘The shopkeeper has refused to comply with what the two offenders have demanded and the offenders have left the shop.’’ Reid said the group then headed to the town’s Mobil service station where they allegedly attempted to rob someone at knifepoint.

‘‘They’ve approached a member of the public at the service station and the two

17-year-olds have demanded cash and the person’s motor vehicle.’’

Again the duo were denied and the person got in their vehicle and left, Reid said.

Police were alerted and the stolen car was stopped a short time later still in Pa¯ tea and officers were shocked to find the youngest of the group behind the wheel. ‘‘It’s extremely dangerous having an

11-year-old driving a car. The potential for that to go horribly wrong is huge.’’

Reid said the 11-year-old and 14-year-old were now in the custody of Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children.

Two 17-year-olds were due to appear in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, each facing two charges of assault with intent to rob.

It was business as usual yesterday at the dairy with no signs of damage inside or out but nobody from the business wanted to comment about the events of the night before. ‘‘We’re holding up well, we’re OK,’’ a woman behind the counter said. ‘‘Luckily no-one was hurt.’’

Mobil owner Jay Knight was unaware of the drama until police visited yesterday morning. The service station was closed at the time so no staff were working, he said.

‘It’s extremely dangerous having an 11-year-old driving a car.’’ Detective Sergeant Byron Reid