Alleged serial Maryland car thief turns out to be 12-year-old boy

Reports say the child made off with an Audi, a Jaguar and sugary snacks

Today, kids can't afford to get caught up in a game like Grand Theft Auto, or so you'd think. According to Montgomery County, Maryland police, a 12-year-old boy appears to be playing the game in the real world. He's accused of burglarizing multiple car dealerships and stealing at least two luxury cars.

Authorities have not released details about the juvenile, but surveillance video from a dealership shows the boy rummaging through various rooms and searching a car on the property. Police believe the boy is behind the break-ins at Audi Rockville, BMW of Rockville, Pristine Auto Rockville, Jaguar Bethesda and Lindsay Ford. They believe he committed at least six other thefts, the names of which are not being released at this time.

More: Teens steal Ferrari 488, lead police on chase from Rhode Island to Florida

According to local news station WJLA, he managed to leave the Jaguar dealership with a car and some candy bars from the showroom. Then, at the Audi dealership, he allegedly crashed his car into a garage door before using the damage to gain access to the building. There, he allegedly took some ice cream from the freezer.

How could a child do all this? Although his parents do not seem to be held accountable, law enforcement says that on their side, it all depends on what they are legally allowed to do.

“In the case of a person under the age of 13, they are completely immune from any liability or consequences for almost all property crimes,” Jason Johnson, president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, told WJLA.

“The juvenile justice system in Maryland is designed so that most juveniles involved in criminal activity face little or no consequences,” he continued. It’s worth noting that time is of the essence for this child. As Johnson alluded to, once a boy turns 13, the law provides for severe penalties.

So far, it appears he has an almost literal “get out of jail free” card that looks a lot like his own birth certificate.

Photo credit: NBC 4