Teen stole 4 cars for joyrides while out on bail

An 18-year-old youth stole four cars and took them for rides while he was out on bail after committing other offences, including injuring two pedestrians while riding an electric bicycle and stealing a toy car.

On April 8, the offender, now 19, pleaded guilty to multiple offences including theft, housebreaking and causing grievous hurt to others by performing a negligent act.

He cannot be named as he was below 18 years old when he committed some of his offences.

He was 17 years old in March 2023 when he rode an e-bike in a negligent manner and struck two pedestrians in Sengkang, causing them to suffer fractures.

On July 26, 2023, he climbed over a fence in Sims Avenue, entered a shop and stole a radio-controlled toy car worth around $3,000.

He then played with it on a road in Geylang.

While browsing Instagram later, he saw that the owner of the shop had posted CCTV footage showing the teenager's image.

Worried that he would be traced, the offender went to the shop the next day at around 3.30am and returned the toy car.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicole Teo said the youth "also left behind a note for the shop owner, apologising for stealing the toy car... (and) asked for the matter to be settled privately".

"(The teenager) also left a contact number, but had intentionally changed the last two digits so that the shop owner would not be able to actually call him," she added.

The toy car was later found to be damaged and needed repairs that cost around $960.

The youth was later caught and was out on bail when he stole four cars he found in Kim Chuan Drive - two Hondas, a BMW and a Porsche - on separate occasions in July 2024. He found some of them unlocked with their keys inside.

Although he did not have a driving licence, he drove the cars and even ferried a friend home on two occasions.

He returned three of the cars to Kim Chuan Drive. He left the fourth car in Defu Lane when he could not restart it.

On April 8, the court called for reports to assess the teenager's suitability for probation and reformative training.

Young offenders ordered to undergo reformative training are detained in a centre to undergo a strict regimen that can include foot drills and counselling.

He will be sentenced in May.