Kids take stolen car on 1,000-km road trip

SYDNEY - Four children drove a stolen four-wheel drive car on a 1,000-kilometer road trip across the Australian outback before being nabbed by police, officials said on Monday.

A 14-year-old boy, two 13-year-old boys and a 10-year-old girl began their epic journey on Saturday when they took cash and packed fishing rods in a vehicle belonging to one of their families in the coastal Queensland town of Rockhampton, police said.

One of the children left a note for his family telling them of his plans.

Queensland police said the car was spotted early on Sunday morning in the outback town of Banana, where the children allegedly stole petrol, before traveling south.

The car was found on Sunday night near Grafton, in the neighboring state of New South Wales, about 11 hours' drive from Rockhampton.

New South Wales police said officers had to force their way into the vehicle after the children refused to get out. "They have locked themselves in the car and police have had to use a baton to get in to arrest them," Coffs-Clarence district acting inspector Darren Williams said.

It was not clear which of the children had been behind the wheel, but Williams said it was likely they had shared the driving.

"It is a long way, in excess of 1,000 km from Rockhampton down to Grafton," he said. "I couldn't imagine one person driving that way in two days."

Police are investigating several alleged offenses committed during the road trip. The children, who were found unharmed, have been taken into custodial care.

Agence France-Presse