Young People in Stolen Vehicles Pose Great Risk to Public

Counties Manukau Police are calling for an end to the risky behaviour demonstrated by young people in several dangerous incidents over the past week.

At around 2:00am this morning a stolen five-tonne truck was involved in a pursuit along the Southern Motorway which resulted in the motorway being closed by Police as a precaution when the truck performed a U-turn and travelled towards oncoming traffic at speeds of over 100km/h.

Two boys aged 17 and 15 were apprehended, with one other person still outstanding. Police inquiries are ongoing to locate this person. The truck was stolen from Manurewa earlier in the night.

This incident follows an unrelated crash which occurred yesterday (Tuesday) in Manurewa after a stolen car driven by two 15 year olds hit three stationary vehicles at an intersection, resulting in four people being taken to hospital. One person had to be cut from their vehicle and Great South Road was closed for a number of hours while the scene was investigated by the Counties Manukau Police Serious Crash Unit. Two 15 year old boys ran from the scene of the crash but were quickly apprehended.

Counties Manukau Police District Prevention Manager Inspector Bronwyn Marshall says these incidents highlight the recent examples Police are seeing of young people behaving badly with complete disregard for the law, their lives or the lives of innocent members of the public.

“Quite simply, it has got to stop before someone is seriously injured or killed,” says Inspector Marshall. “Each day we are seeing another incident involving young people in stolen cars creating havoc on our roads. All lawful motorists should expect to be able to use the road without a stolen car coming at them head-on. This behaviour needs to stop.”

“What we are seeing is that we have young people who do not consider the consequences of their actions to any extent. It is shocking to think that a member of the public could be killed as a result of one young person’s dangerous act and ongoing disregard for the law, the safety of themselves or others.”

Police are working closely with partner agencies to engage at-risk young people before they become absorbed in a life of crime and are doing everything they can to target known offenders, however some of the young people engaging in this life threatening behaviour have not previously come to Police attention for offending. Police therefore are pleading with parents and community leaders to take responsibility for their children and stop putting the public at risk.

“Parents should know where their children are at all times during the day and night.

There is absolutely no excuse for any person to be in a stolen car and with the kind of activity we have seen over the past few days with young people it is critical that the parents and caregivers take responsibility and manage the behaviour of teenagers in their household; the buck stops with parents and caregivers.”

Police in Counties Manukau are increasing patrols in target areas to reduce the number of cars being stolen. Inspector Marshall says that there are still some simple things members of the public can do to assist such as ensuring their vehicles are a less desirable target for offenders by removing keys from vehicles when unattended, security devices in vehicles are utilised and where possible vehicles are left in locations that have some form of security.

“We are seeing a number of cars stolen simply because they are seen as easy targets.”

Just last week, Botany Crimewatch Patrol checked 900 vehicles around the Botany area, finding nearly half with easy-to-steal items visible inside the car, which includes handbags, laptops, shopping bags, sunglasses and GPS devices.

“Incredibly, nine of the vehicles checked on this day were left completely insecure, which makes them a very easy target to steal. These are not unusual figures: they can be replicated throughout the rest of Counties Manukau District and the greater Auckland area. It is alarming for Police that there are so many people leaving their vehicles and their valuables exposed to the possibility of theft in this way,” says Inspector Marshall.

“The risks our young people are taking by engaging in this type of activity are of great concern; they are endangering people’s lives.

We are asking the community to work with us to help solve the problem. Our motto is ‘Safer Communities Together’ and this is particularly applicable in this case.”

ENDS

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