Few consequences: 3 young girls accused of car theft

The mother of a 12-year-old girl who police say was involved in stealing two cars in South Island is echoing a familiar sentiment-the law is too soft to be a deterrent.  

“My concerns about underage children is they are starting to realise there are very few consequences to their actions,” news website Stuff quoted her mother as saying. 

Two other girls-aged 12 years and 13 years-and three boys-nine, 11 and 14 years old-found complicit in the crime were sent to Youth Aid earlier this week. 

The nine and 11-year-old boys first stole a car in Timaru, a city near Christchurch, and rammed it into a pole. The two then got into another car and drove off when police tried to chase them.

The mother of the girl has blamed social media for her daughter’s behaviour and says it should serve as a warning for other parents.

“Our daughter has had a good upbringing, we have taught her right from wrong, she is loved,” the mother was quoted as saying on anonymity. 

“However we have allowed her a lot of freedom on her devices. It has become very addictive, and she has become accustomed to this…it’s only in the last year or so we have seen rapid changes.”

New Zealand is facing an epidemic of juvenile delinquency, with critics saying soft laws have encouraged children, some even prompted by parents, to commit crime and get away with just a rap on the knuckles.   

The new National-led government rode to power in 2023 on the back of rising public resentment to such crimes and the assessment that punishment was often not as severe as the offense. 

The mother of the 12-year-old told Stuff the girl became involved with other children outside her social circle through social media apps, including Instagram and TikTok.