Two kids in masks. Screwdrivers in hand. A popped ignition and a getaway plan that probably involved a bedtime. This isn’t the plot of a gritty reboot of “Home Alone” — it’s an actual incident that unfolded at a Bel Air, Maryland apartment complex, and it’s got neighbors shaking their heads, officers grinding their teeth, and lawmakers hopefully reconsidering some things.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a pair of masked suspects attempting to steal vehicles from a residential complex. When deputies arrived, they found the culprits had already gotten to work — screwdrivers in their pockets and a popped ignition on one of the cars as evidence of their ambition. The plot twist that nobody wanted: both suspects were eleven years old. Presumably in fifth grade. Possibly still learning long division.
Here’s where it gets frustrating for pretty much everyone involved. Under current Maryland law, children under the age of 13 cannot be arrested. So officers, who had literally caught these kids in the act of attempting to steal a vehicle, were legally required to walk away without making an arrest. No cuffs. No charges. Just a very awkward Tuesday morning for everyone.
“We’re Thankful We Didn’t Have to Chase Two Eleven-Year-Olds Through Bel Air”
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