By ALESHA CAPONE
HOBSONS Bay’s top cop has expressed frustration at the rising rate of young criminals operating within the area.
Last week, Inspector Bill Mathers revealed officers arrested a 13-year-old on theft and other related charges.
The teenager was remanded in custody and appeared at the Melbourne Children’s Court last Thursday.
Insp Mathers said the young boy had allegedly stolen “quite a substantial number of items” including GPS navigation units and mobile phones from cars.
He said after police apprehended the 13-year-old investigators discovered the child has “a history of offending”.
He said putting the teenager into remand was a difficult decision for officers but protecting the community was also important.
“We’re probably a little bit frustrated and disappointed someone so young is committing crimes to such an extent that it results in something like this,” he said.
“The age of offenders appears to be getting younger.
“It’s difficult to work out what to do with juvenile offenders especially recidivist offenders.
“Young people are represented in all sorts of crime which always involves them taking risks whether it’s breaking into cars, stealing vehicles, joyriding in cars, shoplifting or the use of drugs,”
“There’s also a significant amount of police time taken up by a small group of recidivist young people who are high-risk because they commit crimes of theft of and from motor cars, which is dangerous to themselves and others.”
In June, Star’s website exclusively reported a 17-year-old was stabbed during a brawl when a group of youths gatecrashed a party at a Maribyrnong community centre.
Teenagers as young as 15 were charged over the incident including males from Altona North and Keilor Downs.
In June and July, a group of young people aged between 14 and 19 years were charged with a series of robberies at railway stations in Tottenham, West Footscray and Albion.
Another five people under 18 were recently charged with a series of violent robberies on taxi drivers in the West.
Insp Mathers advised drivers to lock their vehicles, take valuables with them and park in well-lit areas to help stop theft.
