Has he got a crime obsession?

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Hi everyone, I am struggling with my teen who is 17 years old. He has had police attention for some minor community behaviours and was brought home a few times. We decided to not let him out by himself for a while, one because it was around Christmas and there was enough stress and he had to do a programme for a few weeks. During this time he was reading the court pages of the paper, watching news, reality crime shows and asking people what he would get for certain crimes. He spoke to a police woman and she said that usually the first offence does not go to prison. This made him decide that he could commit a crime and nothing major would happen. So when we decided he could have some freedom back, he told us he wanted to do a crime. So we kept him in. Tried again to let him out and said it again.
The psychologist said he should have freedom, but am I being a responsible parent if I know what he is going to do? Also how do I stop his obsession? His age is 17 but emotionally and socially he is 13 years. Thanks.

Maybe he thinks there might be some kind of thrill with committing crime.

If he's immature he probably hasn't thought about the long term consequences of having a criminal/prison record.

I think all of this is like fantasy to him. Crime is a pretty thrilling thing. All the movies about robbing and making it so you hope they get away with it.

The only.thing I can think of would be some kind of scared straight thing. Except that would probably be too traumatic for him.

Lots of people harbor criminal obsessions, that's called business.

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Hi, thanks for replies. Still not sure if I am doing the right thing by not letting him out by himself? I have another son who hasn't been diagnosed yet as it is hard to get one here. I pulled him out of school due to bullying for two years and he got into silly behaviour from his older brother, so we got him gradually back into school last year. This year he is at high school and he has been there two weeks and we are getting the name calling such as weird, you talk funny or are you deaf. Boys annoying him and in his face at lunch time and taking his photo and laughing. Why are kids so cruel? You think these days with all the publicity around bullying they would stop. My son really enjoys learning, but comes home angry. So these two boys of mine are having a big impact on my sanity, I worry and cry for them it hurts me so much to watch them go through this.

I don't object to your posting here, but there is a Parents section in another part of the WP forums that might give you better advice. Good luck - you have your hands full!

He may learn to quit expressing interest in committing a crime while planning to commit one.

Yes, I thought that may happen. He keeps telling me he has stopped.