Three teenage boys, including a 12-year-old, have been charged after a stolen vehicle was seen speeding and disobeying traffic signals in Hamilton earlier this week.
Hamilton police said a call came in on Tuesday about a suspicious vehicle occupied by three masked individuals in the city’s east end.
Officers responded and determined that the vehicle had been reported stolen. Police said they tracked down the vehicle and saw it being driven in a dangerous manner.
The vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed, making unsafe lane changes, failing to stop for traffic signals and engaging in “counter-surveillance” driving behaviour, police said.
They noted that officers shortly stopped following the vehicle “in the interest of public safety,” given how the vehicle was being driven.
A short time later, officers located the vehicle unoccupied and subsequently found the youths involved in a store, police said.
“Officers entered the store shortly after and arrested three youths without incident. At the time of arrest, officers determined the youths were engaged in activity consistent with further criminal behaviour,” police said in a news release on Thursday.
One youth was allegedly in possession of a key fob belonging to the stolen vehicle.
Police added that another youth was subject to multiple court-imposed conditions, including restrictions related to vehicles and associations with his fellow youth.
He was also wanted on outstanding warrants, police said.
‘Continued rise in youth crime’
The three suspects are a 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy. They cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
“The incident reflects a continued rise in youth crime across the city and highlights the public safety risks associated with stolen vehicles,” police said.
“Hamilton Police remain committed to addressing youth crime and the associated risks to public safety, particularly incidents involving stolen vehicles and dangerous driving behaviour.”
The 15-year-old boy has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, failure to comply with youth probation and four counts of failure to comply with release order.
Police said he was held for a bail hearing, during which they opposed his release.
The other two accused are each facing a charge of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
They were released on undertakings.
“Although charges have been laid, the investigation remains ongoing,” police said.
