For Stealing, Parents Punish 16-Year-Old Son By Banishing Him In Tent For A Month; Harsh Or Justified?

The parents of a 16-year-old boy in New Mexico have punished their son for allegedly stealing from them. They banished the teenager in a tent in their backyard, where he will stay for one month and where he is expected to reform his ways.

Neighbors who have spotted the teenager in his tent got upset and called the authorities to intervene. But Jacob and Angela Boggus said that they have no other recourse but to banish their son as he has never learned any lessons.

Per KRQE-TV, the parents have apparently been trying to straighten their boy, but he continues to steal from them. Thus, the Boggus decided to approach the situation differently when their old ways of disciplining their son didn't work.

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"If he doesn't learn that now, it's gonna be the whole world's problem, not just ours, in a couple of years," said the father in the report. The mom echoed that they have been doing their best as parents.

Jacob and Angela Boggus insist that there is nothing wrong with what they are doing as their son is still fed his usual meals. He can also come inside the house to use the bathroom. Moreover, he is also inside the house by 9 p.m. to sleep in his own bed. He spends the day in the tent to finish some book reports, as well as contemplate on his mistakes.

However, the neighbors were alarmed after seeing the boy's tent for the last two weeks, especially with the rising temperatures in the area this summer. But the police already visited the Boggus' house at least three times, based on three calls.

The police affirm that Jacob and Angela Boggus are not doing anything criminal or abusive, per Fox News. The Boggus told concerned neighbors they are free to come and talk sense into their son, if they want. "We're not trying to hide from this," Jacob said.

Do you think the punishment is apt or harsh? Share your thoughts in the comments below.