Watch Mich. Police Chase 12-Year-Old Boy on Stolen Forklift

Nov. 27, 2023
An unlocked forklift parked outside an Ann Arbor middle school construction site was the target for a 12-year-old boy, who allegedly stole the vehicle and led police on a low-speed chase.

Michigan police chased down a 12-year-old boy who took off in a forklift stolen from a school construction site over the weekend.

The incident happened at around 6:45 p.m. Saturday when a boy stole a Construction Genie GTH-636 Telehandler with a forklift from a work site at an Ann Arbor middle school, WDIV-TV reports. The construction vehicle had been parked at the site, and it was "unlocked with the key inside the cab," the Ann Arbor Police Department said in a statement.

A slow-speed chase with police ensued. The boy reached speeds of 15 mph to 20 mph on the forklift, and he struck around 10 parked vehicles as he swerved and drove on sidewalks during the pursuit.

The boy finally stopped the forklift shortly before 8 p.m. after he had left Ann Arbor's city limits, and Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies took over the chase. He was apprehended and taken to a juvenile detention center.

No injuries were reported during the chase. Police are still investigating the "very dangerous" incident, which "could've easily ended with serious injuries," the agency said in a statement.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!