Editorial: Penalty for mayhem required

The ute that was stolen and wrecked

It is amazing how some people think they are above the law and can behave any way they want.

Take the weekend, for example. A utility vehicle, stolen a few days earlier and since fitted with false rego plates, ended up crashing off Copeland Rd in Hastings in the early hours of yesterday morning, smashing a parked car in the process.

There are so many wrongs in this tale, it is hard to know where to begin.

At this stage three youngsters are helping police with inquiries, but police have indicated that charges of dangerous driving and theft of a vehicle are likely.

Being in a stolen vehicle with false plates can only mean that you are up to no good. So, even before the vehicle had been driven a few metres, several laws had been broken.

Add to this fleeing from police and using up valuable resources, disturbing neighbourhoods, endangering lives and damaging property and you get a night of mayhem.

However, I suppose we should be thankful that it was not worse and that some night-shift worker or early morning delivery driver was not smashed into and injured and killed.

Police often get criticised for chasing fleeing suspects, but most times they pull out of pursuits.

That does not stop the criminals, who carry on fleeing because they know they will be in big trouble if they are caught.

Examples should be made of people who cause as much trouble as was caused at the weekend.

We do not need this sort of behaviour on our streets. Police have enough to do without having to devote time and resources to these early-morning shenanigans.