Stealing drain covers

Question

What would the police do if they caught two sixteen year old lads driving round in there dads pickup truck stealing drain covers at night? Could they go to prison? This is in scotland.

Answer 1

Potentially depending on how professional the operation was, the amount stolen including value, the lads' background including previous convictions, etc.

Answer 2

As well as theft, this is also Public Endangerment.

There is I understand a prison sentence for both.

However this is Britain. Therefore the sixteen year olds will receive compensation for staying out late and a free holiday in Spain.

The scrap merchant is fully aware that the items are manhole covers and is also liable for receiving stolen goods.

The Scottish Police generally know what their job is, unlike others in Britain.

Report it, use crime-line anonymously; if you were in England you probably would be arrested for reporting a crime.  

Answer 3

Certainly could.

Answer 4

Yes. They are causing accidents to happen. People  could die from things like that.

Answer 5

Well they would certainly go to court and it would be up to the court to decide the penalty.

I would hope the police gave them a good kicking, just in case the court went all soft and gave them a community order or something equally soft.

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Answer 6

Well, there might be a curfew law and if they do not have Dad's consent to drive his truck, that is another violation, so it adds up to quite a few violations. It seems very serious and they seem to need some discipline and therapy too.

Answer 7

It would be highly unlikely that the police would catch them during the day, let alone at night.

Scottish police have an appalling track record for success.

Personally i think the lads are showing enterprise in a bad economic climate.

Well done!

Answer 8

Yes, indeed. It's theft, for a start, then they're driving without a licence and therefore without insurance as well.  Dad could also be prosecuted for "causing or permitting" them to use the truck without licence or insurance, and whoever they flog the drain covers to can be charged with receiving stolen property.

The court will come down hard on this, particularly with a view to the danger caused, and pass a sentence at the higher end to the range, almost certainly one of custody.

Answer 9

I hope so. The absence of those covers can be the reason why someone suffers a serious injury. I think the Scots Courts take a harder line than those in England

Answer 10

They ought to. Apart from the crime of theft - it is very dangerous to pedestrians, and cyclists - well, all road users.

Answer 11

They should go to prison.  It might teach them a lesson.  But at 16 years old it's very unlikely.  They'll probably just get a fine.

Answer 12

There have been a lot of covers in Scotland stolen for scrap at a high cost to local councils and the tax payer not to mention the obvious risk to pedestrians and motorists.

It depends how lenient the sheriff is on the day but time is a big possibility.

Answer 13

It's theft. It's aggravated by the danger they are causing. Of course they can and should go to prison.