[02 FEB 01]  WARWICKSHIRE CONSTABULARY NEWS
Teenager Admits Milk Float Escapade

A 13-year-old boy has been sentenced to eight months detention after going joyriding on a milk float.

He was arrested in December after crashing the electrically-powered vehicle in Riversleigh Road, Leamington.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced last week at Mid Warwickshire Youth Court after admitting 12 charges including theft and robbery.

His arrest was one of a number of successes by a pro-active unit set up to tackle vehicle crime in south Warwickshire.

Since the unit was formed in September, 67 people have been arrested for theft of and theft from cars. Police officers have detected 154 vehicle crimes and 93 other offences, including robbery, burglary and arson.

Five officers based in Stratford make up the team. Two members arrested five teenagers on the M40 minutes after a robbery in Hathaway Green lane, Stratford when the suspected fled a shop in a car.

Supt Richard Sear, operations manager of Warwickshire Constabulary’s southern area, said:

“One of our top priorities is to reduce vehicle crime across the south of the county.

“The unit was set up to identify and arrest offenders. It has already proved extremely successful tanks to the specialist skills and hard work of the officers involved.

“I am now looking at ways in which we can further develop the unit and build on the initial successes.”