When Ontario police recently received notice of a break-in at the Wonderland theme park in Toronto, they responded in full force without realising that the suspects were three teenage boys. However, the pursuit with helicopters and a canine unit might have underscored the fact that juvenile crimes will be treated with the same vigour as adult crimes. The initial report to police described the perpetrators as masked men, but they turned out to be candy-stealing juveniles.
With the help of night cameras with thermal imaging, law enforcement was able to post on-line footage of the pursuit for all to see, showing the boys sharing their stolen candy bars under a tree. They were not quite prepared for the moment when the canine unit sniffed them out, and their arrests happened without incidents. Officials hope that the teenagers learned a lesson that will convince them that juvenile crimes are not cool.
A police spokesperson said although the teens were arrested just as any criminals caught with stolen property would be, in the end, they only got stern warnings. Furthermore, they must participate in a community referral program. While the kids were lucky to escape criminal charges in this case, they were made aware of the fact that their luck may change if they are ever arrested again.
Teenagers in Ontario who fell into the trap of bad company and became involved in juvenile crimes may find comfort in knowing that the criminal system assumes that youthful offenders are to be treated with added understanding. Courts believe that education and rehabilitation may be more effective than jail time. With the support and guidance of an experienced criminal defence lawyer, the rights of a juvenile can be protected.
Source: menshealth.com, "Ontario Police Bust Candy Thieves In Most Intense Manner Possible", Korin Miller, April 12, 2017
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