A schoolboy who took a forklift truck on a two-hour rampage around Sonning Common scooped up a family car and turned it on its side before pointing a gun at people as they dived for cover behind vehicles and garden walls, is now in custody.

A blue Fiat Punto was flipped by the forklift during his joyriding spree last night.

Residents dived behind cars and hid inside their homes behind locked doors as the young driver pulled out a gun and pointed it at people who dared to challenge him.

Frightened locals dialled 999 and police arrived in the village with the force helicopter circling overhead as officers tried to bring the spree to an end.

Today the Fiat Punto was still laying on its side with holes punched in the doors of the car from where the fork lift truck had been rammed into it to flip it over.

The young thief is believed to have taken the forklift truck from a shop in Sonning Common on Tuesday evening.

Motorists said they had followed the forklift as it was being driving erratically as they took their children home from after school evening clubs.

Liam Carter, who is working in the Berkshire area but comes from Essex, said: "So we are having a quiet pint after work and some kid started to drive round in a stolen forklift so naturally we all whip our phones out to take a picture.

"As he gets right in front of us he starts mouthing of to us then drives off and pulls a gun out then ducked behind the car."

Another resident said: "Someone has nicked a forklift and is tipping cars over and also has an air rifle .... It's almost unbelievable. What an idiot.

"I followed him home earlier he's been driving around for hours!"

Another who did not wish to be named said: "This is actually mad. There's a kid flipping cars in a forklift and waving a gun about like its every day business?!

Others saw mopeds following the tractor as it circled the village near closed primary schools.

Another resident who saw the forklift truck being driven around said: "I saw a guy tearing down Baskerville Road on a forklift with a motorcyclist behind him, neither had lights on, only a lantern at the front of the forklift which was as effective as a chocolate teapot.

"God, it was an accident waiting to happen."

The crew of the police helicopter unit NPAS Benson tweeted that they had been sent to assist in the search for the driver and said: "Sonning Common @tvpsouthandvale for a male damaging vehicles. Possible suspect located by us and followed, now arrested."

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said officers had arrested a 15-year-old boy from Henley-on-Thames.

The forklift truck was driven down Woodlands Road, Wood Lane, Green Lane and Baskerville Road in Sonning Common.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Francesca Griffin, of Force CID based at Abingdon, said: “We are aware this incident has caused disruption in the Sonning Common area last night. We would like anyone who we have not spoken to about this incident to call us with any information that they may have."

  • A 15-year-old boy from Henley-on-Thames was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of a fire arm. He is currently in police custody.