Sadly the place doesn't seem to have changed much since I lived there 20 years ago

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7559589.stm

Scum

Wish it was that nice round here - last year an ambulance was stolen after responding to a 999 call - joyridden and trashed by yobs. They even stole pretty much everything out of it as well.

no doubt the insurance wont pay out as the keys were left in it

i dont understand it, as a kid i was a little "siht" pushed peoples walls over made crop circles, smashed windows etc etc but it never entered my head to nick cars etc etc.

what the hell is going on!? why do these people not have a speck of dignity/honour/respect! im of a slightly yobbish age (passing out of that age bracket soon thankfully) and i wouldnt dream and have never dreamt of doing anything like this or anything like even the above comment!

[Edited on 14/8/08 by hellbent345]

For what it's worth, this is my view on the problem:

They only do this kind of thing because there is no personal consequence to them getting caught.

From an early age they have no discipline at home, no education, no job prospects and no money but still aspire to own nice things like everyone else - can't blame them for aspiration as major problem with our current society as proven by record levels of personal debt.

As such they turn to crime when they are too young to be prosecuted (to buy a PSP and games, etc.) and by the time they turn 16, crime is has become a part of their life.

Around this time their parents will kick them out so the alternatives are sleep rough/try to get a council flat or keep on stealing to live and risk going to prison where they will recieve free accomodation, food, recreation, etc.

We can't change the reward they will recieve for stealing (people will still buy knock off goods), the risk is low as petty crime isn't tackled because of the high work/low result trade off which the police force won't accept when chasing government targets, this leaves us with the consequences which we can change - My suggestion would be American type work gangs with orange bibs doing work within the community.