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| quote: | 98 stolen cars linked to joyrider, 14
Mar 03, 2009 04:30 AM
Jackson Hayes
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR
HAMILTON – The tally of stolen cars connected to a 14-year-old boy has jumped to 98 as police continue to unravel a bizarre case of a prolific joyriding teen.
As the numbers grow, people are asking how a youth could steal almost 100 vehicles and manoeuvre through the city for roughly nine months without anyone noticing.
Det. Sgt. Paul Downey, of the auto theft and robbery unit, said it can be easier than people think.
Downey said joyriders can avoid detection by stealing cars at night and taking quiet side streets instead of busy roads.
And the nature of the joyride – driving for a short distance then ditching the vehicle – can make it tough for police to keep up.
The boy, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested Saturday. He apparently just rode, then abandoned the vehicles, but they were damaged because of the break-ins.
After he was taken into custody, police said the youngster said he was behind a slew of auto thefts dating back to last June.
Hamilton Insp. Warren Korol said officers have no information to suggest there was an organized ring or that the teen was doing this for anything other than a good time.
Michael Chettleburgh, an expert on street gangs and the author of several works on the topic, said it is not out of the ordinary to see children this young behind the wheel of a stolen car.
"Today's 13 is yesteryear's 16," he said. "We know of joyriders in parts of the country who are 8 and 9 years old."
Chettleburgh points to a mix of peer pressure, lack of constructive adult guidance and youthful bravado as reasons behind joyriding.
"You see this exaggerated risk-taking and for them it is truly a joyride," he said.
Chettleburgh suggests most kids outgrow the habit.
"I don't see any evidence of it being a gateway type of offence. It is just stupid kids being stupid."
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Short time TA, Long time Guver, Good time giver.
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