28 October 2011

Teen arsonist collared

28 October 2011 | By johnboy

ACT Policing’s Crime Response Team has arrested and charged a 15-year-old south Canberra boy on one count of arson and two of property damage.

In the first incident, police will allege the boy and four associates entered the rear loading dock area of Woolworths in Calwell around 9.50pm on September 16 and lit a fire in a rubbish bin, causing damage to the building. The supermarket had to be evacuated and as a result of the activation of automatic sprinklers and the fire-fighting efforts of staff, the fire was extinguished.

Later that same night, police will allege the youth ignited a spray can in a wheelie bin outside the IGA supermarket in Richardson. Two bins were badly damaged as a result.

In a third incident, police will allege the youth started a fire in a hedge at the McDonalds restaurant in Greenway on 30 September 2011, causing the destruction of the hedge but no damage to any nearby buildings. The fire was extinguished by the ACT Fire Brigade.

The boy has been bailed to appear in the ACT Childrens Court at a later date.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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Timberwolf654:53 pm 29 Oct 11

Classified said :

15 years old and wandering around all night? Parents?

One would have to be stay up all night to keep an eye on some of these teens who might decide to escape in the dead of night.
I suppose some parents who are at wits end could perhaps chain the teen to their room in order to get one nights decent sleep.

You are not a parent Classified, hope when and if you do become one, you will eat your words.

Blame some parents but don’t put them all in the same category.

Sammy3:06 pm 28 Oct 11

Classified said :

15 years old and wandering around all night? Parents?

Often the parents are at their wits-end with how to deal with troublesome teenagers, and they’ve done all they can to try and curtail their behaviour. Sometimes you have to blame more than just the parents.

harvyk11:40 pm 28 Oct 11

Keijidosha said :

The Police patrol lapping the block are apparently no deterrent to the children of the south.

No not really, it’s pretty rare that ppl actually get nabbed for breaking the law. I expect this kids mistake was to get on the wrong side of wollies and McD’s…

Had they just gone around burning down non-corporate owned stuff chances are they would have never been caught…

Tecko121:28 pm 28 Oct 11

Strap them to the front of an RFS light unit next time there is a fire.

Maybe then they’ll see the joke.

Completely agree.

colourful sydney racing identity12:54 pm 28 Oct 11

Classified said :

15 years old and wandering around all night? Parents?

At that age and younger, I used to sneak out. It is a reflection on me, not my parents.

Henry8212:29 pm 28 Oct 11

Classified said :

15 years old and wandering around all night? Parents?

>Implying bogan parents take responsibility for their kids.

Classified11:47 am 28 Oct 11

15 years old and wandering around all night? Parents?

Keijidosha10:08 am 28 Oct 11

I was in Tuggeranong TC last Saturday night and witnessed some teens setting fire to things before nicking off into the darkness. Also experienced a drive-by egging on the restaurant strip. The Police patrol lapping the block are apparently no deterrent to the children of the south.