Disagree. Chase was instant. You can’t run plates and go, oh gee, it’s a Japanese family, let’s let ‘em go. it couldn’t possible be a criminal or anyone bad.
I’m just gonna go with that you were being sarcastic.
Well done by the officers.
And the car couldn’t have been stolen or carjacked from the Japanese family.
Anybody want to bet that in most countries a similarly confused American family wouldn’t have been handled with the same kid gloves?
That said, it is a visitor’s responsibility to adapt to the local customs.