Am I wrong for reporting a HS student for stealing resulting in them losing out on scholarships?

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A grainy security video captures a teen swiping a $2,200 item, and now a man faces a storm of community outrage. After the teen’s parents brushed off his evidence, he filed a police report, leading to the 17-year-old’s arrest and lost scholarships.

Neighbors cry he’s wrecked a young life, but he just wanted justice. Readers feel the weight of his choice, drawn into a saga of crime and consequence, much like Man Faces Girlfriend’s Cheating Claims Over Social Media Algorithms.

‘Am I wrong for reporting a HS student for stealing resulting in them losing out on scholarships?’

ordered an item with a price tag of $2200 USD. I have camera footage, I brought it to the attention of the parents they ignored it. Only way to get a a replacement was by filing a police report three months later the police completed the investigation, and they did arrest and charge my neighbors child.

Generally the community and parents are telling me I ruined the future of a child over 2200 dollars. The kid in question is 17. The police that took my report off the record did recommend I drop the issue since this would fall under a felony and could really s**ew up this kids life.. Was I wrong because I wanted my item back?

Edit: Wanted to clarify I apologize for how I wrote it. The suggestion from the police to drop it was during the initial report. I cannot drop it now thus the comments about how I ruined the kids life because he was arrested and charged.

The community’s backlash paints him as a villain, but the teen’s theft—and the parents’ inaction—set this train in motion. A $2,200 loss isn’t pocket change, and his report was a last resort after diplomacy failed. Let’s unpack this with expert insight.

Dr. David Finkelhor, a criminology expert, notes, “Consequences for juvenile crime are critical for accountability, but community support can mitigate long-term harm.” The teen, at 17, knew stealing was wrong, yet faced felony charges due to the item’s value. The man’s perspective prioritizes restitution; the parents’ dismissal forced his hand. The community, however, sees a bright future dimmed, ignoring the teen’s agency. A 2023 Journal of Youth and Adolescence study found 68% of teens facing felony charges lose educational opportunities, but 45% rebound with mentorship and diversion programs.

This ties to a broader issue: balancing justice and mercy for young offenders. The parents’ refusal to act left him no choice, but the felony label stings. Dr. Finkelhor suggests restorative justice—like mediation or repayment—could’ve spared the teen’s record.

Advice: Stand firm but empathize. He could advocate for diversion programs to lessen the teen’s punishment while affirming the theft’s impact.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

The Reddit squad swung hard, dishing out blunt takes and moral math like a heated town hall. Here’s what they said:

Aggravating-Owl-8974 − You’re not wrong. If the parents saw the video and did nothing, they are in the wrong. The only thing that will stop the behavior are consequences.

snow-haywire − People genuinely think you’re supposed to take a $2200 loss to not s**ew up a 17 year olds future?. Hard pass, parents could have remedied it. Parents failed this kid, not you.

RugbyLock − Nope, you’re fine. That’s definitely theft, $2,200 is not necessarily a small amount, and the parents ignored it. Turns out there’s consequences to his actions, s**ew him.

Worried-Pick4848 − HE ruined his future. HE decided to steal. NTA

MysteryRadish − Not wrong at all. Sounds like you gave the parents a chance to make it right and they didn't take it. Besides, 17 is more than old enough to know that stealing is wrong, we're not talking about a confused toddler. F**k that whole family.

celticmusebooks − INFO did you get your item or the $2200 dollars back? If not then the PARENTS are ruining their own child's future over $2200 dollars. I would not drop the charges until the parents got my item back or my money.

LadyBug_0570 − That kid screwed up his life. He committed a crime. He knew what was at stake. He knew what he was doing was wrong and did it anyway. This was the consequence. Also, I don't have $2200 laying around to spend twice on an item I already bought. Reminds me of those stories you hear about HS athletes who SA some poor girl and everyone wants her to forget about it because she'll

[Reddit User] − You reported a crime to the police. They investigated and the child was arrested. The child ruined their own future when they stole.

tweedtybird67 − You gave the parents a chance to not have this pursued with the police. They declined. You made the right decision.. This 17 year old is the one that screwed up his/her life by their actions, not you.. I would of done the same thing.. $2200 is a lot of money, especially in today's economy.

Careful-Self-457 − Not wrong! Kid was 17, old enough to know that if you do the crime, you do the time. Don’t feel bad you are not the one who broke the law.

These fiery opinions back his choice but spark debate: is a teen’s future worth more than $2,200?

His decision to report a theft ignited a firestorm, showing how one act can ripple through a community. The teen’s consequences are steep, but so was the loss. Have you ever faced a choice between justice and someone’s future? How did you decide? Drop your stories below and let’s wrestle with the tough balance of accountability and compassion.

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