A 17-year-old boy identified as Ayomiposi Esan, reportedly locked his parents inside the house and stole a Toyota Corolla car, three mobile phones and two generator sets.

Wakadaily learnt that the boy broke into the house in the wee hours on Sunday while Mr Oluwafemi and Mrs Tosin were asleep in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said it took a joint effort of other residents to free the parents from the apartment.

The suspect was arrested in Lagos while looking for buyers for the stolen items.

“The boy had successfully sold one generator set he stole. The father is preventing the police from prosecuting the son after his arrest. The police wanted the boy to be prosecuted for his action, but the parents said they wanted him to be released along with the stolen items,” the source added.

The state Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident said: “The course of the investigation was truncated by the complainant, who was equally the biological father of the suspect, as he vehemently declined prosecution of his son, one Ayomiposi Esan. He wanted his son and the recovered stolen goods, including the car, released.

“In the spirit of community policing and taking into consideration the image of the force so that police will not be seen as being too harsh on him and his family, the teenage son was consequently released with his property on bond.

“However, the son was counselled, cautioned, and advised to turn a new leaf and shun further indulgence in all forms of delinquency to avoid future occurrences,” Odutola said.