UAE | Crime

Three-member teenage gang caught for stealing from cars

Three teenagers have been arrested by Sharjah Police on Monday for breaking into cars and stealing valuables.

  • By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 16:05 September 22, 2008
  • Gulf News

Sharjah: A gang of teenagers has been caught after breaking into cars and stealing valuables, Sharjah Police said, adding that majority of them are under 18.

The gang was arrested on Monday and all were UAE nationals, police said. They were identified as A.M.G., A.M.H. and A.A.A.

Psychologists attribute this anti-social behaviour to problems in the family or to economic factors.

The three teenagers are scheduled to appear in Sharjah Court on Tuesday.

Youngsters who are younger than 18 and caught by police for committing crimes such as involvement in drugs, thefts or "immoral" relationships, are not sent to jail as they are minors.

Instead they are placed in the custody of the Comprehensive Unit of Social Care by court order.

A senior police officer said that initially one gang member was arrested. He then identified and led the police to the other members.

Police recovered from the teenagers 11 mobile phones, passports, knives, two wallets and a large quantity of money, all stolen from cars parked near mosques and shopping centres.

Dr Raymond Hamden, a clinical and forensic psychologist with the Human Relations Institute in Dubai, said that there were a number of factors that cause Conduct Disorder among teenagers.

"Parents are the easiest target to assume that they are at fault.

"It may be a biological or a neurological problem, and there is evidence that at times it may be both that cause Conduct Disorder," said Hamden.

Watch out: Aggressive nature

According to Dr Raymond Hamden, a clinical and forensic psychologist with the Human Relations Institute in Dubai some of the tell-tale signs that a teenager may be suffering from Conduct Disorder include:

  • Aggression to people and animals
  • Often bullies people, threatens or intimidates others
  • Often initiates physical fights
  • Destructs property
  • Often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before the age of 13
  • Has run away from home overnight at least twice while living in parental or surrogate parents' home (or once without returning for a lengthy period of time)
  • Is often truant from school, beginning before the age of 13

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