09-26-2005, 08:49 AM
Newspaper story from Saturday Sept 24, 2005 edition
Quote:
Teen who stole $3m trams released
A teenager who stole two $3 million Melbourne trams, a school bus and tried to drive a diesel train was released from custody yesterday.
The youth, 16, who is believed to have a form of autism and is obsessed with public transport, had spent 3 1/2 months in custody.
He pleaded guilty to 17 charges in the Victorian Children's court yesterday, including theft, burglary and criminal damage.
The police withdrew five more serious charges.
A magistrate placed him on a 12-month probation order with strict conditions.
A teenager who stole two $3 million Melbourne trams, a school bus and tried to drive a diesel train was released from custody yesterday.
The youth, 16, who is believed to have a form of autism and is obsessed with public transport, had spent 3 1/2 months in custody.
He pleaded guilty to 17 charges in the Victorian Children's court yesterday, including theft, burglary and criminal damage.
The police withdrew five more serious charges.
A magistrate placed him on a 12-month probation order with strict conditions.
When this story first hit the headlines autism was not mentioned, but I was pretty sure the young offender must be an aspie. One of the police handling the case was interviewed, and he said something to the effect of "He's a nice boy but is very obsessed".
It is a concern that this young man was unwise enough to get into a situation in which he spent time in custody. A few months ago I reported a very diturbing story about an Australian aspie teen who was abused and beaten up while in an Australian juvenile detention centre.
I have read anecdotes of similar illegal imposter behaviour by aspies in other parts of the world, with technological obsessions as the motive.