New Law Pitched to Put Brakes On Epidemic of Juvenile Car Thefts

Police chiefs in Branford, Guilford, Madison and just about every other town in the state have been asking, actually begging, state officials to do something to increase the penalties against juveniles who have turn car thefts and thefts from cars into an epidemic-like problem in a lot of towns.

Well, it looks like some have been listening to the plea.

The legislature's Public Safety and Security Committee held a lengthy public hearing Tuesday on a bill that would require the automatic transfer of a juvenile charged with the theft of a motor vehicle to adult court if the juvenile has at least two prior felony convictions. It received hours of testimony from supporters and critics.

Those pushing for the bill claim that Connecticut’s juvenile justice reforms have created a new problem -- that juveniles know they will only receive a slap on the wrist if they are caught stealing a car.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo told the committee: “We had 972 cars stolen in Waterbury in 2018, the majority were stolen by juveniles.”

Spagnolo said 52 juveniles were arrested for car theft and related charges in Waterbury last year and that six of them were repeat offenders. “They were arrested on an average of 10 times each and charged in total with 75 crimes,” Spagnolo said.

“It’s a big problem in Waterbury,” Spagnolo said. “It’s a big problem in the state.”

Spagnolo and others testifying in favor of the legislation also said the cars are often being driven at high speeds by unlicensed, unskilled drivers -- making the issue a public safety a concern as well.

Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, said she was well aware of the issue, stating she knows the town of Hebron even held a special meeting on the matter a few nights ago.

“This (juvenile stealing cars) is actually happening across the state in a variety of communities,” Osten said.

The topic of stolen cars and thefts of goods from inside vehicles has dominated the conversations at many recent meetings of Boards of Police Commissioners in shoreline towns.

Branford Police Chief Kevin Halloran has been particularly outspoken on the issue, stating repeatedly that there are juveniles who don't fear any consequences for their actions.

Halloran said the typical way the crime is committed in Branford is a group of young people come to a neighborhood together and begin looking for unlocked cars -- first to see if there's anything of value to steal, and second to steal a car and to take it "on a joy ride."

Connecticut’s top prosecutor is supporting the legislation.

In written testimony, the Division of Criminal Justice that is headed by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane said it’s “no secret that in many cases a young person who steals a car is soon back on the streets having faced no immediate or meaningful sanctions for their crimes.”

Kane blamed “Raise the Age” legislation for the increase.

“While much good has come from the “raise the age” legislation enacted in recent years, it also has become obvious that some fine-tuning is in order to address the very serious threat posed by the very small number of serious repeat juvenile offenders,” Kane’s statement said in written testimony.

Kane also suggested that the committee not limit its language.

“Motor vehicle thefts may be the issue of the day this year; next year it well could be armed robberies, sexual assaults, or some other violent felony,” Kane said.

One other step that all in law enforcement suggest would cut down dramatically on car theft, and it does not involve legislation: lock your cars.

One other step that all in law enforcement suggest would cut down dramatically on car theft, and it does not involve legislation: lock your car.