TWO 13-year-olds have been charged over a spate of knifepoint robberies that took place in Solihull over the Easter period.
The pair are accused of committing eight robberies occurring from March 24 to April 6 and are part of a wider rise in crime in parks and public places.
A St Alphege police spokesperson said: “Two teenagers have been charged for a number of robberies which took place in Tudor Grange Park.
“Solihull Police were alerted to a total of eight knifepoint robberies that took place over the Easter period.
“A13-year-old boy from Acocks Green was charged with eight counts of robbery and three counts of possession of an offensive weapon.
“The 13-year-old’s accomplice, a 13-year-old from Kings Heath has also been charged with eight robberies.
“Both teenagers appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday (16 April) and were bailed with strict conditions to re-appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on the 30 April.”
We reported an 23 per cent rise in crime last year in Solihull.
Latest figures show levels of violent incidents in a public place have risen by 30 per cent.
St Alphege has been identified as an area with a particular prevalence of robberies of this nature with 16 different cases in the last three months – twice as many as any other ward.
A report says West Midlands Police and partners are using ‘Hot Grids’ to target locations that experience this kind of violence – such as parks.
Councillor Ken Hawkins said in November:“The police have made a lot of arrests and they are taking action, trying to increase visible patrols.
“It is about making people feel safe.”
