Bexley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A 16-year-old has been charged in connection with burglaries in Dartford and thefts in Bexley, facing potential penalties under juvenile law.
A vespa was reported stolen from the garage of a residence near Joyden’s Wood in Dartford on Sunday (August 3) at around 11.40pm.
Officers on patrol spotted a suspicious motorbike rider and gave him the signal to stop as police started to look into the area.
The man hopped off his bike and ran on foot, forcing officers to pursue him.
The motorbike was seized, and the teenager was placed under arrest.
The 16-year-old youngster was charged with three driving offences and burglary in Bexley the following day.
He was also accused of attempting to steal a car in Bexley on August 3.
To appear before the Medway Magistrates’ Court today (August 5), he was granted conditional bail.
How common are burglaries and thefts among teenagers in Dartford and Bexley?
Dartford has an annual burglary rate of approximately 3.9 crimes per 1,000 population, accounting for 3.5% of total crimes in the area. Theft and burglary together are notable crime categories, with theft from the person increasing recently by 45.7%, indicating some growth in personal theft incidents.
In Bexley, theft constitutes around 17.6% of total crimes, and burglary accounts for approximately 10.9%, according to the most recent available figures.
Authorities typically handle such cases in youth courts, with outcomes ranging from community-based sentences to, in more serious cases, secure detention, depending on the severity of the offenses and the circumstances of the youth involved.