A BOY of 12 went on a midnight car crime spree in Newport - using stolen DIY tools to break into a string of cars, a court heard yesterday.

Police say they also arrested a ten-year-old boy involved in the incidents, reprimanding him on the night.

The case highlights just why our Car Safe campaign to cut car crime is so important.

We want to raise public awareness about car safety, make car park operators more accountable for security, expose car crime hotspots, reduce car crime figures and increase sentences for repeat offenders.

After the hearing, Bettws PC Eddie Evans said: "This type of car crime is going on all the time. People need to be made aware of it, and one of the best ways of doing this is through the Argus."

Cwmbran youth court heard that the boy from the Bettws area, who cannot be named, admitted breaking into a garden shed in Bettws and stealing a chisel and screwdriver some time around midnight on July 25.

He admitted that later that night he used the tools to break into three cars, smashing the window of one vehicle.

He was seen searching around inside a Ford Fiesta, then attempting to break into a Ford Escort, and finally breaking into a Volvo, from which he stole some clothes, the court heard.

The last incident occurred at 2am, and the boy was arrested at his home later that night.

The 12-year-old asked for three further offences to be taken into account, all of which took place on the same evening.

The additional offences he admitted were interfering with a motor vehicle, the theft of a football, skateboard and badminton racquet, and the theft of a garden claw and brush.

Magistrates told the boy's father, who also attended court, that they had "very grave concerns" about him allowing a 12-year-old boy to be outside at two o'clock in the morning. The boy's father said he thought his son was going camping.

The boy was given a nine-month referral order, meaning he and his father must attend regular interview sessions with the Youth Offending Team to change his behaviour. He was also ordered to pay £55 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, PC Evans said: "The boys were arrested following a night of damage to and thefts from vehicles. We are treating car crime very seriously and there are currently other investigations ongoing within the Bettws area to crack down on the problem."