I am deeply troubled since yesterday when I learned of the death of the teenager in the attempted robbery situation.

Many people would conclude that he got exactly what he wanted and until and unless it is someone very close to us, our feelings about issues of this nature would always be less compassionate and more judgemental.

Children were not born bad. Their environment, the lack of parental guidance and control, friends, social media and the “village” has driven most of them into some unseemly ways. We cannot underestimate the huge influence “bad company” can have on our children.

Criminal exploitation is a huge and growing danger for many teenagers and young adults as they are regularly targeted by older and more seasoned criminals because of their vulnerabilities.

Many are targeted into carrying or doing drugs, shoplifting, stealing, and more. The high cost of living is putting some families under pressure and many are unable to afford the essentials.

For many teens, this kind of uncertainty and stress at home is hard and it makes them an easy target for criminal groups.

Teens are often recruited to make “easy money” to help their family and to live an affluent lifestyle in an environment that looks and feels exciting and away from the home pressure. We are aggressively losing a lot of our finest teens through criminal exploitation.

Whilst I do not wish to lay any blame for this young man’s ultimate demise, where assistance and intervention is given, there must be consistent, up to date and timely follow up.

Some people are not as strong and as resolute as others. Their hands must be continously held daily and they must be bolstered and encouraged regularly throughout their journey.

They were already programmed, indoctrinated and brainwashed and the “change journey ” is not going to be an easy and an overnight thing.

We have to be more targeted and diligent in our desire to help them. It cannot be a once off placement and then they are forgotten.

We also have to enlist the help of social workers, case managers, counselors and other professionals to assist them along the way.

We have lost a teenager in a most distasteful manner and I hope that going forward we can all do more to save the others from similar outcomes and consequences.