Two ten year olds, an unsecured contsruction lot, a bulldozer with keys,

[TheMightyFavog]

$500,000 dollars worth of damage later....

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4806557.html

One can only imagine what goes on in the minds of 10-year-old boys. It's a Sunday afternoon. You somehow get into a fenced construction site filled with big cranes and bulldozers. You manage to find some ignition keys, hop up on the seat, start the engine and away you go.

(snip)

To the two 10-year-olds, it may have seemed like a romp in a giant sandbox full of toys. But, Minneapolis police say, that romp did more than $500,000 of damage at the Heritage Park housing development near Hwy. 55 and Lyndale Av. N.

(snip)

The boys, who live within blocks of the site, snapped a power pole in half, knocking out power to KMOJ-FM radio for 17 hours. They confessed to police after they were arrested Sunday evening. The boys, who won't be identified because they aren't adults, can be charged with a felony-level crime in Juvenile Court.

(snip)

A track backhoe and a bulldozer rented by the city of Minneapolis were among the equipment vandalized between 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday. The backhoe has a broken windshield that will cost about $500 to fix and the bulldozer had "quite a bit of damage," said Steve Kotke, director of property and equipment services for the city.

[wtmusic]

1. I am green with envy

heaven for a ten-year-old (until you get caught)

[damnraddem]

2. Oh, with that lead in, I thought it would continue with ...

and you get a Bush Administration.

[Radical Activist]

3. Every 10 yr old boys dream come true!

That's awesome! Why didn't cool stuff like that happen to me?

[RobertSeattle]

4. Lazy Construction Equipment industry

Not that the kids aren't at fault, but most Construction equipment has used the same generic type of keys for decades. I still don't understand why the auto industry can come up with theft proof ignition systems.

[TheMightyFavog]

6. It said that the kids found the keys for the bulldozer...

Maybe it's time for the construction vehicle industry to start implementing basic biometric technology into their ignition systems, such as a thumbprint scan.

[RobertSeattle]

7. Or idiot proof operators

Leaving keys in a bulldozer - what a Moran!

I always chuckle when you go past a heavy construction site on the weekend and all the equipment is lined up bumper to bumper to prevent theft.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. So who left the site unsecured?

Kids are "legally incompetent". Adults (usually) aren't.

--bkl

[bleedingheart]

8. I am glad the kids weren't hurt

perhaps one will work in construction one day...and I bet he keeps his keys locked up!

?

[Flaxbee]

9. Ye olde "Attractive Nuisance"

... the construction company isn't without blame, either... basically, if you're stupid enough to leave something like that on your property, easily tampered with, don't come crying to us!

[TheMightyFavog]

10. Right... Why were'nt the keys to that bulldozer kept under lock and key?

The Comany may have some liability in this case.

[salvorhardin]

13. Attractive Nuisance?

I wonder if any hackers' lawyers have claimed that as a defense. It certainly sums up what poorly secured networked computer systems were to me and my friends as kids.

[AngryAmish]

11. I used to drive heavy equipment as a child

My father was a CAT mechanic and I got to go to the shop on some Saturdays. I would sit on his lap and "drive" the tractor around the back lot.

I did find out that most of the equipment had the same key. I had a copy. I always was tempted to do what those kids did, but never had the balls. Damn.

[Lefty48197]

12. Hell you can start a lot of construction equipment with a screwdriver

who needs keys?