Punk steals car, kids – gives ’em back

Editor’s Note: We have withheld the family’s real name and changed the first names used throughout this story.
Jennifer said she’s “very lucky” to have her kids home – and safe.
The mom of two boys, ages seven and five, recounted the harrowing ordeal her boys went through on Tuesday, August 16.
Her husband, sons and dog were in the family car, a gray Honda van, and were preparing to drop the pet off at her father’s house. But when he realized he couldn’t find the dog’s leash, Steve stopped at the 99 cent store on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach.
Because it was hot, he left the kids and dog in the car – with the air conditioner running and the alarm remote in hand.
“He literally took two steps into the store and an old man told him ‘You have the gray van? They’re taking it,’” said Jennifer.
Steve ran to the car, but by that point it had already rounded the nearest corner. He spotted a police cruiser – heading back to the 101st Precinct, according to a police source – and was told to get in.
Meanwhile, in the van, according to reports, the older boy told the thief that he was in the wrong car and the dog, barking furiously, refused to move from the front seat.
“The thief was going through our van and my oldest told him not to steal our money and the thief said, ‘I’m only looking for dollars’ and left with nothing,” said Jennifer.
Reportedly, the man asked the boy where he lived and decided to drop them off.
As Steve searched, Jennifer said she saw her older son walk into their Howard Beach house. “He was white,” she said.
Initially she thought something was wrong with Steve, but then the boy told her what happened.
“He said ‘a man dropped us off and ran away with his shirt over his head,’” said Jennifer. “From the time they left until they got dropped off – the whole thing took four minutes. We’re very lucky – evidently God was on our side.”
She called Steve, who “not even two seconds later drove up in a cop car.”
Jennifer said her older son was able to get the suspect’s name, “Leo,” and his description matched that of a witness.
“My son is very shy,” said Jennifer. “For him to get all this is a big deal.”
The boys have not been back to the scene since the incident, according to their mom, who said, “My son is a hero. They are home safe because of him.”
On Tuesday, August 23, police were said to have apprehended “Leo.”
“It was his name, and my son’s description was a match,” said Jennifer. “They caught him breaking into another car. We were called a week to the day all this originally took place. Leo also admitted to all that he had done.”