Here’s an interesting legal question: If a minor commits a crime, such as burglarizing a car at 1:30 a.m., are they responsible, or are their parents responsible? According to the Gloucester City Police in New Jersey, “All of the above.”

The police report that they arrested three suspects for breaking into multiple cars in the Highland Park neighborhood in the early hours of Sunday morning. Residents say the thieves nabbed items such as credit cards and even stole a bicycle out of a driveway. The suspects are two minors (aged 16 and 17), as well as 19-year-old Wesley Hunter of Cherry Hill.

The police first charged all three with stealing from the cars. The department handed Hunter over to the Camden County Police because he had outstanding warrants. Then, the department called the minors’ parents to pick them up. When the parents arrived, they got a nasty surprise: charges for failing to supervise their kids.

Who’s responsible for teen criminals?

Denise Glassman says her son-in-law’s car was burglarized. She says, “They shouldn’t be out at 1:30 in the morning. They should be home in bed. And their parents are responsible.” She agrees with the parents facing charges too: “They should be.”

This issue has divided courts across the country. When a Michigan 17-year-old crashed his mom’s BMW and killed his 18-year-old passenger, prosecutors decided not to press charges. They looked at evidence, including the fact that the mom had told the teen not to speed repeatedly and was out of the country on the fateful night. But when a 17-year-old in New York crashed and killed his passenger, the prosecutors discovered his parents had let him drive the car without a license and charged them.

Gloucester PD detectives say they’ve recovered stolen property from other, unknown cars. Any drivers missing items should contact the department.