Maybe the article calls them girls because it’s unusual for females to get involved with this sort of crime?
Since when?
Unusual for girls to be charged or jailed, yes.
Unusual for girls to steal? Not hardly.
Actually, in that particular (Ghetto Thug) culture, it's not unusual at all.
Not to mention the encouragement provided by the lack of punishment - 7 previous (known) instances of vehicle theft, and they were still running around loose?