State Rep. Howard Working to Curb Car Thefts by Repeat Youth Offenders

HARTFORD – In an effort to curb the rash of car break-ins and car thefts chiefly being committed by juveniles, State Representative Greg Howard (R-43) has co-sponsored a proposal in the legislature’s Judiciary Committee which would provide for stricter penalties for ‘repeat’ juvenile offenders.

In recent years Connecticut residents have seen an escalation in these kind of car break-ins and car thefts by juveniles, with towns like Stonington and North Stonington among the communities being hard hit with these property crimes mostly happening in their own driveway.

“As these crimes increase, the juvenile offenders have been emboldened to continue their illegal activity, with no fear of serious penalties due to their youth status within the court system and knowledge they will soon be back on the street,” said Rep. Greg Howard, who is also a police detective with the Stonington Police Department. “I’ve seen first-hand how these youths go from car to car and neighborhood to neighborhood. We need to put some teeth in the law and real consequences to deter these repeat offenders.”

The legislation, HB-5473, An Act Concerning Additional Methods and Resources to Deter Juvenile Auto Theft, would transfer juvenile cases automatic transfer to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court in the case of a child charged with a violation of section 53a-123 (second degree larceny) or 53a-124 (third degree larceny) of the general statutes if the property includes a motor vehicle, or criminal attempt of the same; expand the circumstances in which a court can order a juvenile be detained prior to a court hearing if the juvenile is arrested for larceny involving a motor vehicle, and also permit the court to order, in lieu of detention, global positioning system monitoring of a juvenile awaiting a court hearing; expand the definition of “serious juvenile repeat offender” to include a child who has previously been adjudicated delinquent for misdemeanor larceny offenses involving motor vehicles.

According to Rep. Howard, what typically happens during one of these vehicle theft crime sprees, is once in the vehicle, the perpetrators rummage for anything of value (everything from money to registration information/paperwork for identity fraud) and keys.  If the keys/key fob are in the vehicle the thieves will be more inclined to steal the vehicle.  Once finished with a vehicle they would move right on to the next house and next car.

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