Really worried about 12 year old grandson

If they were going to arrest him I think they would have done so by now. He is most likely in for a good telling off.

I wouldn't hug him and tell him not to worry. Let him worry himself sick.

Of clurse you won't need a "lawyer".

Phone his mother at work and tell her. Let her do some of the worrying too.

Jalima So did I.

I’ve text his mum and she’s worried sick like I am we’re taking him tomorrow I told them we would be there for 9am the other boy and his mum are coming with us aswell

the most respectful and behaved teen shoplifter they have caught in a long time
That is so lovely, you must be proud!
I doubt they will take further action.

Oh good god no you dont need a lawyer!

Nobody has been in trouble with the police before the first time...

You GS is not "good" or "bad". He did a bad teenagerey thing which many teenagers do. Give him consequences but FGS stop thinking in such black and white terms!

I think he needs a thoroughly good talking to,not therapy or counselling, but must be made to realise that shoplifting and petty larceny lead one way only. He is not the first teenage shoplifter and won’t be the last but a short sharp shock won’t do him any harm? Tough love.
And don’t beat yourselves up about his childhood or background. He has a loving home and has been brought up to know right from wrong.

Ok I won’t prepare to get a lawyer just yet what would happen if he did get arrested thought would he have to spend a few hours in a cell does anyone know ??

Okay NOW I think youre taking the p**

I’m actually so offended some people think I’m lying ?

I will give an update tomorrow for the people that want to know.

Out of interest , as he has been caught twice shoplifting, why are you hugging him and telling him not to worry?
Is he just devastated at being caught or ashamed of what he has done?
I wouldn’t be telling him everything will be all right, I would be grounding him, making him realise the consequences of his actions and working out a plan to show him the way back to the straight and narrow.
It’s the shopkeepers who get my sympathy, not tennagers who think theft is funny.

Couldn't agree more Maw (if you'll pardon the homophone )

would he have to spend a few hours in a cell does anyone know ??
I'm all for a short, sharp shock.
Does wonders.

Just before Christmas my DGS and his mates went to the shop across the road from where he lives for sweets. All 4 had also put sweets in their pockets not paid for. Fortunately a friend of my DGD saw my grandson and told his sister who told my DD.
DD took DGS back to the shop and he owned up to the manager, he had to pay for the sweets from his pocket money. The manager banned him from going in the shop without an adult. And he was grounded for 5 weeks. (Sweets cost £1). At the time they were talking to the manager a PSCO walked into the shop. DD asked him to have a word with DGS which he did very carefully and explained that it's not good stealing.
He's 10 and hopefully this has scared him.

I can see that he’s really scared and nervous he knows he done something really bad and knows he is in a lot of trouble

Well it wasn't that bad. A pounds-worth of sweets.

Itsjo70 Do not fret please, it is such a shock to the system, and your grandson did exactly the right thing by being respectful. If he had been taken to the Police Station, he would have had a caution. Please believe me when I say this is not the big slide to him becoming a delinquent, a jolly good thing he was caught straight off, it will make him stop and think. He must have been punished already, no need for dad to be told as well. Please trust him to do other jobs, and explain that cameras are every where for our safety, and see everything, even in the streets and towns.

Itsjo70 I had not realised that he was with another child. Exactly why shops (smaller ones) don’t encourage children shopping together, as they dare each other. From experience I also know, that part of the bullying culture, demands children to shoplift to order, so they can join a certain group. Put his ‘crime’ in perspective, he will not be arrested or charged or given any other punishment. But encourage him to talk about his school and friends always, so you can spot the vulnerable moments.

At first I thought DD was too hard on DGS but I'm glad she did now.

He was with his friend when they nicked sweets and didn’t get caught on the day.

The 2nd time grandson was on his own when he stole the dvd but security managed to stop him.

I think they both will be in trouble be fearing grandson will be in a lot more trouble the dvd he tried to steal cost £16 aswell not a cheap one.

My DD nicked sweets once.
She was only 2 at the time and in a pushchair.
I didn't find them until we were halfway home - they really shouldn't put the sweets near the checkout where little children can reach them.

I didn't take them back
(well, they were Smarties and we both like them)

Itsjo70 - If the friend was putting sweets in your grandson's bag he was trying to make sure that your grandson, not him, would be the one caught with stolen goods. Not a good friend.
You need to ensure that your grandson realises he is still loved in spite of his behaviour but he must stop it right now.
The police will make it clear to him what the consequences will be if he carries on shoplifting.

www.inbrief.co.uk/offences/shoplifting/

If the goods stolen are worth less than £200 the police are very unlikely to pursue a prosecution and the suspect will at worst be issued with a caution.
Some sweets or a £16 DVD art hardly in that category but given the youth of the offenders, the principle is what matters.

Grandson admitted he agreed to put them in his bag so it isn’t all his friends fault.

I’m just praying everything goes ok tomorrow