Child car thieves - Over 1000 charged in just 3 years

NEW research from Direct Line Motor Insurance reveals 1,156 people under the age of 18 have been charged with vehicle theft in the past 3 years, the equivalent of more than 1 per day. The statistics1 also reveal that children as young as 12 have been charged with the crime.

53% of under 18's charged with vehicle theft in the past 3 years were aged between:- 15 and 16. However, 10% of those charges were aged between:- 13 and 14. 7 children aged between:- 11 to 12 were also charged during this period. South Yorkshire Police revealed children as young as:- 10 have been arrested for car theft in each of the past 3 years.

The figures show that 514 under 18's were charged with vehicle theft in 2019. The number of young people charged fell to:- 356 in 2020 and 286 in 2021 when Pandemic travel restrictions were in force. However, there are concerns the number of under 18's charged with vehicle theft could increase again now that restrictions have ended.

The research is based on insight from Direct Line's:- 'Truth about Car Theft' campaign with the University of Huddersfield.3 The study, based on detailed academic interviews of convicted car thieves reveals car theft can be a gateway crime to more serious offences. During the interviews, one offender stated:- "They say car crime is a gateway of crime. Yes. That's how it was for me anyway. I've done everything. Town robberies and everything." Another said his family got him involved:- "When I was young, my father, he told me when I was 8, I was driving round the park and his brother signed me up. My mum and dad split up...My dad came back on the scene and yes, he got me taking a few cars here and there. Then I went on being on my own, doing cars on my own."

A 3rd offender started:- "I got into drugs at a young age. I was about 14 when I fell into drugs and car crime just came hand-in-hand with it." He used heroin and crack cocaine and was committing crimes under the influence of those drugs. The offender explained why he 'chose' vehicle crime over other offences:- "It was 1 of 3 options. It was either shoplifting, which is embarrassing and degrading. There's burglary, which carries a lot more time, more jail, and then there's car crime which is, we used to say when we were kids, taking candy from a baby."

The notion of car theft as a gateway crime is supported by data from West Yorkshire Police. It shows 765 people aged under 18 in the Region were charged with other offences between:- 2019 and 2022, having previously been charged with vehicle theft. Of these, 180 young people were charged with burglary having previously been charged with vehicle theft.

Professor Rachel Armitage, Professor of Criminology, University of Huddersfield, said:- "Our research found many prolific car thieves start committing vehicle crime at a young age, often in their early teens. Unfortunately, car crime can often be a gateway crime to more serious offences. Offending can sadly be driven by older family members, or to fund an illegal drug habit, so it is important we also consider how vulnerable children can be supported to help prevent them engaging in criminal activity in the 1st place."

Lorraine Price, head of motor insurance at Direct Line, commented:- "More than 1 car theft each day is committed by a child or teenager, which is a sad reflection of our society. That children as young as 12 are being charged with vehicle theft is truly shocking. Children should be focussing on School and having fun, they should be protected from older family members or associates seeking to lead them into a life of crime. Having your car stolen can be incredibly distressing and cause significant inconvenience for the victim. While car owners shouldn't have to take additional precautions to protect their vehicles, they can reduce the risk of being targeted."

How to reduce the risk of car theft...

While car crime is never the fault of the victim, there are steps motorists can take to help reduce their risk of being targeted, or to help retrieve their vehicle if it is stolen:-

►  Trackers... Using a tracker within your car can play a big part in getting your car retrieved.

►  Alarms... Use of a motion sensor alarm in your drive, particularly using a recorded voice, can deter a car thief from entering your car.

►  Cleanliness... Having a tidy car also helps, as a car thief will see a messy car and typically think there is something of value underneath the debris.

►  Bollards and CCTV... Consider installing a parking post or bollard to block in your vehicle on the drive and CCTV cameras to help deter thieves.

►  Keys... Don't leave them visible, use a faraday pouch to store keys at home to help prevent against relay theft.

►  Entry/exit noise... For example, having a gravel driveway; noise is a deterrent for car thieves.

►  Deterrents... A car behind a gate, lights, or even a dog are big deterrent for car thieves.

HAF-ing a wonderful Christmas time!

PROVIDERS across Liverpool are once again coming together to support families during the School holidays. The Department for Education funded Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme returns with a huge choice of FREE activities for children and young people from eligible families.

Merseyside Play Action Council (MPAC) delivers and co-ordinates the scheme on behalf of Liverpool City Council and the full list of providers and sessions can be accessed through the MPAC website.

Activities must be booked in advance and are for children and young people aged from:- 5 (reception) to 16 years old, who are in receipt of benefits related free School meals.

Supermarket vouchers will also be distributed to families. Liverpool families with School aged children (5 to 16 years) who are eligible for benefits related free School meals will also receive a £15 voucher per child per week for the two weeks of the Christmas break. These will be issued by Schools.

Families with children aged 2 who are eligible for a free early education child care place will also receive supermarket vouchers. These vouchers will be issued by the child care provider.

The Council has also secured Government funding which will allow for cash payments to be made to young people who are now living independently after leaving care.

Liverpool's holiday activity programmes have proved incredibly popular with families. In October Half Term, 99 organisations delivered projects across 102 sites, with 6,361 children making 13,562 attendances supported by 5,475 hours of volunteering. An amazing 31,983 meals were also provided.

DfE funded HAF programmes run at Christmas, Easter and during the long summer break. Liverpool City Council funds activity programmes in the Half Term holidays.

Cllr Frazer Lake, Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care, said:- "Christmas should be a happy time but we know that for some families it can also be very tough and this year will be one of the hardest that many people have known. We are so grateful for the success of the HAF programme and this is thanks to the passion of our friends at Merseyside Play Action Council who have been the driving force behind it. The numbers of children supported, meals provided and volunteer hours given speak for themselves. There is a need for this programme in our City; it is enjoyed by the children who take part and is really valued by their parents."