Youngsters are being warned they risk ruining their holidays – and possibly their future- by stealing this Easter.
Around 23 per cent of shoplifting offences in Newcastle are carried out by juvenile offenders. The youngsters, usually in their early to mid teens, are initially given reprimands or warnings but if caught repeatedly could end up in court.
In 2008 there were 1,993 arrests for shoplifting in Newcastle city centre – on average 38 people per week – with 468 of these youngsters aged between 10 and 17 years old.
Of these 468 young people arrested, 73.5% (344) had committed their first or second offence.
With the Easter holidays approaching, officers are warning youngsters to think twice about coming to the city centre to steal, as they could end up with a criminal record.
The city centre Neighbourhood team has a dedicated Retail Crime Unit which works closely with retailers to prevent shoplifting and ensure offenders are arrested.
Sergeant Darren Graham, who heads the unit, said: "Almost a quarter of people arrested for shoplifting are young, often in their mid teens, and most are offending for the first time.
"They are often generally well behaved children who, for one reason or another, have decided to steal. This could be down to a dare or peer pressure, them thinking it’s just a bit of fun or because they just don’t view it as a serious crime
"Stealing of any kind is taken very seriously, and neither ourselves nor retailers will put up with it. Last year hundreds of young people ended up with criminal records because they haven’t thought about the consequences of their actions.
"They have to think, is stealing a CD or DVD really worth getting a criminal record for? Of course it’s not. I’d urge all young people to think twice before stealing because, although it may seem like harmless fun, they’ll realise it’s not once they’ve been arrested and put in a cell.
"We want to educate youngsters and parents about the consequences so they don’t end up ruining their holidays and gaining a criminal record which could ultimately affect their future."
The Retail Crime Unit carries out patrols across the city centre and works with retailers to prevent shop theft and arrest offenders.
Of the 1,525 remaining shoplifting arrests – all those over 18s – 42% (838) were arrested for committing their first or second offence. This means 60% of all arrests for shoplifting in Newcastle city centre are first or second time offenders.
Police believe educating people about the consequences of stealing is important to reduce the number of incidents and arrests.
Sgt Graham added: "It’s inevitable that people will get caught if they come here to steal. For 60% of the people we’ve arrested breaking the law is out of character for them, so we’d urge them to think twice before going ahead and committing that first offence.
"It’s just not worth it. They should concentrate on looking forward to and enjoying the summer season, not risking their future and reputation by stealing from shops."
