Three Youths Steal Excavator for Joyride in Zoersel
Three young people, including one minor, stole an excavator from a construction site in Zoersel, Belgium, and went on a joyride through residential streets in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The incident, which left the heavy machinery badly damaged and the road covered in hydraulic oil, has been referred to the Antwerp prosecutor’s office.
The Incident
According to VRT NWS, police were called to the Eikenlaan in Zoersel, a municipality in Belgium’s Antwerp province, after residents reported that youths had made off with an excavator parked at a house under renovation. The machine belonged to neighbors of the reporting resident, who were renovating their home.
“We were called in the night from Monday to Tuesday by residents of the Eikenlaan in Zoersel, because a number of youths had made off with an excavator that was parked at a house under renovation,” said An Denis, spokesperson for Police Zone Voorkempen.
The youths managed to find the key, which had been hidden on the property, and started the machine. According to Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN), a neighbor’s mother-in-law was woken in the middle of the night by loud noise, went outside, filmed the incident, and immediately called police.
“At first they only got the lights working, but at some point the machine started up fully,” the resident told HLN. “Then they began driving around the street with it. They even came onto the neighbors’ driveway.”
The Joyride
Video footage captured by the witness shows the youths driving the excavator through the streets, making several abrupt movements. At one point, they struck a tree with the excavator’s bucket. The resident noted that the youths appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Police from Zone Voorkempen arrived within 15 minutes of the call. One person was caught immediately, while the others fled.
“The youths started the crane and went on a crazy ride with it through the streets,” Denis said.
Aftermath and Damage
The excavator eventually broke down and was left in the middle of the road. It was no longer drivable and had to be towed by judicial order. A hydraulic oil leak from the machine contaminated the road surface, requiring the fire department to clean the area in the early morning hours. A temporary detour was set up for buses.
“They eventually left the vehicle in the middle of the road,” Denis told HLN. “It was no longer drivable, so it had to be towed by judicial order. There was also a leak in the crane, causing oil to spray from the vehicle. The road was heavily contaminated, so the fire department had to come in the early morning to clean the road.”
All three youths, including the minor, have been identified by police. Police reports have been sent to the Antwerp prosecutor’s office.
A Growing Pattern of Joyriding Incidents
The Zoersel incident is part of a concerning pattern of joyriding episodes across Belgium in recent months. In May, a joyride in Boom ended in a crash against traffic signs and a supermarket facade, with the mayor calling it “irresponsible and dangerous driving behavior.” In another incident in Hofstade, joyriders crashed into a building facade, leaving residents deeply shaken. And in Boom, youths were filmed laughing and fooling around behind the wheel before crashing heavily at a roundabout.
The resident of the Eikenlaan expressed relief that the incident didn’t result in worse outcomes. “I’m glad it stayed at this,” she told HLN. “It could have ended differently. Good thing my mother-in-law woke up, because she’s the only one who reported it.”
What’s Next
The case has been referred to the Antwerp prosecutor’s office. In Belgium, minors who commit crimes are typically handled through the youth justice system. The excavator sustained significant damage, and repair costs could be substantial given the extent of the hydraulic damage. The incident serves as a reminder of the potentially serious consequences of joyriding with heavy machinery, both for the perpetrators and for the communities affected.