Boys Ages 10 and 12 Steal Car Outside Capital

TWO boys ages 10 and 12, recentlyescaped from a state-run children’s shelter,stole a car last week, hoping for aquick getaway and a long road trip – buttheir plans were foiled when they crashedagainst a metal pole, according to thedaily Al Día.While the children’s identity remaineda mystery at first, since the boys refusedto give their names to police, officers laterdetermined that the boys were residents ofa Child Welfare Office (PANI) shelter inthe northern San José suburb ofGuadalupe, and had escaped from theshelter Wednesday night, the dailyreported.The incident took place at 9:30 p.m.July 14 in Moravia, another northern suburb.The boys stole the car after theowner, Oscar Alvarado, got out of his carto leave some keys at his mother’s house.The boys planned to drive the car tothe Caribbean port city of Limón, wherethey have relatives, Al Día reported.However, the older of the boys drove thecar only two kilometers before losing controlof the vehicle. He was drivingapproximately 70 kilometers per hour.Moravia resident Wílberth Hernándezstopped the boys as they attempted to fleethe scene.The boys, who are once again underthe care of the Child Welfare Office, wereoriginally sent to the shelter because theyhave suffered aggression and abuse, PANIspokeswoman Fanny Cordero told thedaily.