The thieves are getting younger.

How did he reach the pedals?

NotSpaghetti

^Where on earth has he learned to drive at such a young age?^

On a farm. Quite a number of young people I knew in my youth drove as soon as they were big enough to reach the pedals.

They weren't stealing caravans (!) but they did drive around the farmland and by 13 many were driving tractors.

I can understand that children with access to large areas of private land and vehicles can master the mechanics of driving, but that's nothing like negotiating a busy motorway. Many years ago my surgeon, an army officer, said his daughter learned to drive on army property, passed her test at the first attempt and then promptly wrote off his car on her first solo trip. Luckily it was only the metal that was mangled, she walked away unhurt. Negotiating motorway traffic, and I've not read any reports he was driving erratically, is some skill!

BlueBelle

Calendargirl

But then we all just sit here, with our own thoughts and assumptions, not posting anything at all?

That’s just silly I m saying you shouldn’t be publicly ethnically profiling the child when none of us know who he is or what group or tribe he belongs to
I m totally surprised and saddened Avaline and Calandergirl that you think it’s ok to to publicly jump to conclusions about the child’s ethnicity with no hint other than he’s a thief
I thought we were well past that obviously not

I think it is probably just easier and less scary to think it is an easily identifiable group doing this, rather than realising it could be that nice bloke round the corner who seems to be quite strict with his kids and who has some sort of business, but no one is quite sure what he does.

Calendargirl

But then we all just sit here, with our own thoughts and assumptions, not posting anything at all?

That’s just silly I m saying you shouldn’t be publicly ethnically profiling the child when none of us know who he is or what group or tribe he belongs to
I m totally surprised and saddened Avaline and Calandergirl that you think it’s ok to to publicly jump to conclusions about the child’s ethnicity with no hint other than he’s a thief
I thought we were well past that obviously not

There's nothing new about it really. The first school I taught in had a children's home in its catchment area and at least one of the children was in because her dad had been using her to burgle houses. Putting her through windows that were too small for him.
The travellers community are not the only group that make their living from crime. There is a substantial underclass.

Oh yes. Had forgotten old aerodromes Calendargirl!

Where on earth has he learned to drive at such a young age?

On a farm. Quite a number of young people I knew in my youth drove as soon as they were big enough to reach the pedals.

They weren't stealing caravans (!) but they did drive around the farmland and by 13 many were driving tractors.

Where on earth has he learned to drive at such a young age?

You may well ask. In a field, on an old aerodrome, in a supermarket car park at night, a quiet country road in the middle of nowhere….?

One thing's for sure that's not the first time he's driven a car. I've been driving for decades and would not fancy trying to tow a caravan. Where on earth has he learned to drive at such a young age?

BlueBelle

*Well, although we shouldn’t make assumptions, am willing to bet that when more details emerge of the 11 year old caravan thief’s background, certain assumptions will prove correct*

They may well be correct that is absolutely not the point at all but surely you can see it is not on at all to jump to those conclusions and stick them on a public site
Would you really say I bet that’s a Black kid or a Jewish kid or a Pakistani kid or an Irish kid of course you wouldn’t (well I hope to God you wouldn’t ) And it’s totally out of order to jump to these conclusions and make them public

I m amazed

I'm with you, BlueBelle.

Obviously that's what BlueBelle would prefer.

But then we all just sit here, with our own thoughts and assumptions, not posting anything at all?

Well, although we shouldn’t make assumptions, am willing to bet that when more details emerge of the 11 year old caravan thief’s background, certain assumptions will prove correct

They may well be correct that is absolutely not the point at all but surely you can see it is not on at all to jump to those conclusions and stick them on a public site
Would you really say I bet that’s a Black kid or a Jewish kid or a Pakistani kid or an Irish kid of course you wouldn’t (well I hope to God you wouldn’t ) And it’s totally out of order to jump to these conclusions and make them public

I m amazed

Calendargirl

Well, although we shouldn’t make assumptions, am willing to bet that when more details emerge of the 11 year old caravan thief’s background, certain assumptions will prove correct.

My thoughts exactly.

Precisely this 👏

Well, although we shouldn’t make assumptions, am willing to bet that when more details emerge of the 11 year old caravan thief’s background, certain assumptions will prove correct.

My thoughts exactly.

I don't like these assumptions about the child's background either. I wish people wouldn't do it it's unfair and unreasonable.
Gypsies, Irish Travellers, Romany are ethnic minority groups.

Just saying.

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BlueBelle of course we can! It's an open forum.

It's hard to believe that a child that age would be capable of driving. Presumably he's been committing crimes since he was able to walk. It's a way of life for some people.
If a child is 'below the age of responsibility', the parents should be held to account. It was probably the parents who put him up to it, and I don't doubt that the whole family are 'known to the police'.

It’s not on Vera you can think what you like you can talk to your husband as much as you want but you can’t come on a public forum and make assumptions about the child’s ethnicity

BlueBelle I'm afraid 40+ years experience in both the motor trade and the caravan trade means my husband made the same comments.
His only surprise is that the boy is older than 10 years and thus not under the age of criminal responsibility 🤷

I think it’s really horrible to make assumptions as to the child’s background or ethnicity or even make suggestions …thats truly not good oldanproud and Avaline

Just like county lines that use children as couriers although driving a car at 11 is dangerous to other road users, I bet he was following another car who disappeared when the police showed up. Sister not likely to be with him, she was shoplifting for her mum.

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In minor vein, 5 teenagers in school uniforms got on a bus yesterday and refused to pay fares or tap in a payment card. The bus driver did nothing. It’s obviously minor crime but it starts somewhere?