WAR AGAINST KID CROOKS NOT WORKING

LAST October, police were so desperate to get a repeat teen thief off Gold Coast streets they appealed his bail in the Supreme Court. But before they could argue their case the boy was arrested for driving another stolen car.

Months later, another kindergarten crook was nabbed on a joyride from Pimpama to the Sunshine Coast, just weeks after getting out of ICU after a horrific crash in another stolen vehicle on the M1 at Gaven.

This week, a 13-year-old serial car thief crashed a stolen Range Rover in Molendinar. He was found 500m from the scene and is in hospital himself where he is showcasing his notoriety on social media. His mates are loving it.

The Youth Justice Taskforce, headed by Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, was set up early last year to address the youth crime crisis, with a focus on repeat offenders and working with the judicial system in relation to bail.

Eight months later, the Bulletin revealed the number of teen car thefts had spiked since the taskforce was announced. At that stage, the taskforce had not visited the Gold Coast, an epicentre of the rot.

Gold Coasters are tired of having their cars nicked by brazen young crooks. A small group of the kids are responsible for a large portion of the crime. Police know who they are and are frustrated. Whatever we are doing now to support them and make society safer is not working.