Sydney: Four children took a stolen four-wheel drive on a 1,000-kilometre road trip across the Australian outback before being nabbed by police, officials said 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 kids allegedly stole petrol, before travelling south. The car was found on Sunday night near Grafton, in the neighbouring 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 batten to get in to arrest them," Coffs-Clarence district acting inspector Darren Williams told reporters. 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.
