8 years old auto theft

Police have reported in that an eight-year-old boy stole his teacher’s minivan from school and drove it home.

Calling him the "youngest auto thief in the history of our department," Modesto police said the Marshall School third-grader fished his teacher’s car key from her purse Monday while her back was turned in class. After school, he drove her gold Dodge Caravan several blocks but less than a mile to his west Modesto home.

The boy parked on the street and went inside his home, officer Michael Amarillas said. Police did not release the boy’s name or address.

The boy apparently managed to drive the minivan by adjusting the seat up and the steering wheel down, Brady said. He also adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see out the back, and turned off the radio for the drive home, she said.

It was not known if the boy wore his seat belt. There was no visible damage to the minivan, Brady said, and nothing was missing from inside.