Caught on camera: Young girl 'steals grandmother's car and leads police on chase'
A dramatic car chase through a Texas town has been captured on dashcam after a 12-year-old girl allegedly took her grandmother's car for a spin.
The 12-year-old reportedly went on the high-speed drive in Montgomery County during an attempt to see her boyfriend on Thursday about 5.30pm, all while her five-year-old sister was in the car.
In the hair-raising footage broadcast on ABC-13 police follow the car driving on the wrong side of the road and travelling on the shoulder of the motorway.
The pre-teen narrowly squeezes between two vehicles and weaves around the traffic and even drives through red lights.
According to KPRC2, speeds reached close to 160 kilometres an hour.
Authorities also claimed that during the chase the car hit two or three other vehicles.
"The vehicle being pursued hit multiple vehicles along 105 resulting in minor damage and no injuries, thank goodness," said Jim Napolitano from the Montgomery Police Department.
"I am amazed no one was killed or seriously injured," Montgomery County attorney, J D Labright said.
Online reports say the grandmother alerted authorities thinking the girls had been kidnapped and the car stolen.
"We didn't know what it was," Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Captain R D Silvio said.
"It was later determined that the kids were the ones who had taken the car."
When an officer tried to stop the vehicle the car allegedly sped away.
KPRC2 reports the younger girl in the car was scared following the incident.
"Went right into the arms of our officer when it was over," Chief Jim Napolitano said.
The 12-year-old is due to appear in court on Tuesday and will remain in custody until then.
She has been charged with theft of property over $30,000 and other charges are pending.
News break – July 3