Teenager Pressured Into Stealing Xbox From Supported Accommodation For Friend To Sell

One of the huge problems with gaming as a hobby has always been the price tags. While there has always been a small financial barrier connected to books, movies, and TV, they all pale in comparison to that of playing on games consoles or a PC. I remember vividly the class divide in school - the kids who could talk excitedly about the latest games, and those who couldn't. Unfortunately, this isn't an issue that looks like it'll be fixed soon.

The latest consoles, and decent PCs, are luxury items, and nothing highlights this more than this recent news from The Shields Gazette.

According to the article, an 18-year-old man stole an Xbox console from a roomate in a supported accommodation that he was living in, before an accomplice sold it at Cash Converters and the two then split the cash. He was caught by the building's CCTV, though, which picked him up doing a bad job of concealing the Xbox on the way out. In a sad revelation, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that the teen was bullied into stealing it by his 'friend'. Nevertheless, he pleaded guilty to the charge of "burglary of a dwelling house without violence." His defense lawyer, Val Bell, said that he is a "fairly vulnerable individual.” The punishment was a nine-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation days, as well as a £35 compensation fee to cash converters.

It's a lesson not only for potential thieves, but for console owners. Don't advertise your systems, and make sure you have a decent security in place to protect them. If you're fortunate enough to own the latest hardware, be aware that they have huge monetary value, and guard it as you would an old family heirloom.