Mum of teen criminal “rapt” with move to fit him with an electronic monitoring bracelet

The mother of a teen criminal allegedly behind dozens of home invasions, aggravated burglaries and car thefts has welcomed a landmark move to slap her son with an ankle monitoring device saying it will keep “the community safe”.

The mother of a teenage criminal set to become the first child slapped with an ankle monitoring device is “rapt” with the landmark move that is “keeping the community safe”.

Her 15-year-old son, who has an extensive criminal history, is expected to be fitted with the tracking device in two weeks’ time following a long stint inside a Melbourne youth jail.

If her son agrees to having the device fitted, he is expected to become one of, if not the first teenagers to be electronically tracked under the landmark legislation.

If the boy is deemed fit and eligible to wear the ankle bracelet, he will be one of the first 50 youth offenders aged 14 to 18 to be tracked in the state government’s controversial trial.

The boy’s mother says the electronic device will keep the community safe. Picture: Morgan Sette

The boy’s mother, who cannot legally be identified as it would identify her son, said she was pleased tough-talking Magistrate Gail Hubble sought an assessment to have the device fitted.

“I was rapt, at least they can track and watch him,” she told the Saturday Herald Sun.

“Absolutely I agree with it, it’s some sort of security for me. It’s also keeping the community safe.

“If someone is able to monitor him, I know people aren’t getting their homes invaded and cars stolen. I’m all for it.”

Her teenage son has been charged over dozens and dozens of alleged crimes including a number of home invasions, aggravated burglaries and car thefts.

Magistrate Gail Hubble sought to have the device fitted. Picture: David Geraghty

One of his most recent charges was the result of him allegedly ramming a police vehicle.

Children’s court Magistrate Gail Hubble this week ordered the boy to undergo an assessment to have the tracking device fitted following a three-month stint behind bars.

The 15-year-old boy will still have to agree to having the ankle monitor placed on him but the boy’s mother expects him to comply.

She said it was better than him returning to Parkville or having extremely strict bail conditions imposed — ones she would expect him to breach anyway.

“I don’t think he can come outside without something like that,” the boy’s mother added.

“It’s definitely a good move to trial it on him, he’s probably one of the best to do it on.

“I don’t know if he’ll look at it as a badge of honour … but I’m hoping it does the opposite and makes his (criminal) mates run away from him. As in, if he does crime they’ll get caught too.”

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said it was “the role of the courts to determine whether a young person is granted bail with an electronic monitoring device and any other conditions”.

“Youth Justice completes a suitability assessment in all instances where the court is considering electronic monitoring as a condition of a young person’s bail,” the spokesperson said.

“Any young person who poses an unacceptable risk to community safety is expected to be remanded – they should not be out in the community on bail, with or without electronic monitoring.”