If I had a buck for every really-young-kid-steals-car story I posted!

I could have semi-retired much earlier! This is from the October 8, 1999 Obscure Store (wait for a second for Wayback Machine to jump to the page):

Girl, 12, spends 50 cents on gas and steals car
Cops say the girl took a neighbor's 1992 Chevy, gassed it up with two quarters, and headed to school -- although she had never driven before. On the road, a teacher passed the young driver, but failed to recognize her. The sixth-grader was nabbed after showing up late for school, explaining she had to stop at the gas station.

Comments

[oldewave]

nowadays that 50 cents wouldn't get her out the driveway.

[Many]

I remember 16 cent a gallon gas. Of course, 16 cents was still worth 4 bucks back then.

[Jim Romenesko]

I seem to recall that gas was 39 cents a gallon when I got my driver's license. (And candy bars were a nickel.)

[twerp]

Good ole 1999--back when a gallon of gas would cost you around $.89/gallon-$.98/gallon....those were the days...

[KDP]

Someone must have been watching over her - I'm guessing she found a spot next to the school since she used the stopping for gas as an excuse.