On face value, there could scarcely be a more jarring example of the failures of our justice system than young teens stealing and torching vehicles with virtual impunity.

Senior police are privately frustrated, claiming they are hogtied by the Young Offenders Act, a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to keep underage crims – especially those from Aboriginal backgrounds – out of detention.

The pain felt by car theft victims, like William George on today’s front page, is very real.

The sheer pointlessness of having their vehicles torched for no material gain only adds to the anguish.

These are crimes of boredom and disenfranchisement, done by young people who have already been pushed to the margins of society.

Bereft in a sea of aimlessness and negativity, these children are acting out against a community they feel doesn’t value them.

As such, we must resist the temptation to junk the Young Offenders Act or take an overly punitive approach to youth crime.

Sadly, there’s no panacea to the spate of crime currently sweeping Wagga.

It might not fit into a political sound byte, but part of the puzzle is engaging at-risk offenders on a positive level before they slide into a life of criminality.

Research – and common sense – tells us that many young offenders have been raised in dysfunctional homes, characterised by shoddy parenting, substance abuse, violence, poverty and chronic instability.

This does not excuse criminal behaviour but gives us an insight into some of the likely trigger points.

Parents, of course, must shoulder much of the blame for providing that home environment.

With parenting comes responsibility; if your child is roaming the neighbourhood late at night, you should be held at least partly responsible for their actions.

But ultimately, this is a whole-of-community problem that would best be solved through a lens of compassion, rather than condemnation.