Teen admits stealing money from parked car

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to theft of £6.70 from a vehicle and interfering with a vehicle on April 3.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard the car was parked in Queen Street on Sunday afternoon when the accused broke into it and stole the money.

He was detained in the car by a witness until police arrived.

Opposing bail, an investigating officer revealed that the teen has 15 previous convictions and half of these were for dishonesty offences.

She added that the boy was on bail for other matters and was subject to a youth conference order.

The court was told one of the conditions of this order was a curfew and an electronic tag. The officer said that police have concerns he was now committing offences outside the hours of curfew.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott told the court his client had made some progress with the Youth Justice Agency and there was ‘some sense of hope’.

However, District Judge Barney McElholm said the teen ‘won’t stop stealing from people’. He said protecting the public was his ‘primary duty’ and ‘someone who has had their car broken into and money stolen has every right to turn to me and say what are you doing about it’.

The judge released the teen on bail until today.