Teenage Bus Bandits Spark Security Fears in East London
Two 13-year-old boys pulled off a wild late-night spree, stealing and crashing not one but two London buses in separate incidents. The shocking raids at an east London bus depot have raised serious questions about transport security in the capital.
Joyride Mayhem at Silvertown Depot
In the early hours of June 13, the duo broke into the Henley Road bus garage in Silvertown. CCTV footage revealed them behind the wheel of a single-decker D3 bus, taking a mile-long joyride. The thrill ended abruptly when they smashed into two parked cars before running off.
Less than four hours later, the boys were back. This time, they started a double-decker bus in just 20 seconds. Their reckless spree ended with a crash into the depot’s perimeter fence before they could hit the road.
Judge Brands Incident ‘Quite Concerning’
District Judge Talwinder Buttar told Stratford Youth Court: “It is quite concerning that two 13-year-old boys were able to start and drive a bus through London with such ease.”
One boy has admitted to taking a vehicle without consent, driving without insurance, and without a licence. His sentencing is set for October at 1 Youth Court. The other pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated vehicle taking, plus driving without insurance or a licence.
How Did They Do It? Suspicious Device or Simple Ignition?
Prosecutor Elizabeth Ajayi revealed CCTV showed the boys may have used a small device to start the buses. However, one teen claimed they merely pressed the ignition button.
The second boy received a 12-month referral order including rehabilitation and education sessions, a two-year driving ban, and is barred from contacting his partner-in-crime. His mother was slapped with £85 in costs and a £26 surcharge.
Transport for London Acts on Security Lapses
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed it is working closely with bus operator Go-Ahead to tighten security at the Henley Road depot. This garage serves numerous routes including the 5, 15, 115, 129, 330, 376, 473, D3, 69, 474, N15, and SL4.
Rosie Trew, TfL’s Head of Bus Service Delivery, said: “We take safety and security across our network extremely seriously. We are working with the operator to ensure all appropriate security measures are in place to prevent an incident such as this from happening again.”
