Mother sees turning in son for suspected burglary as teaching moment

Sandra Green didn't need much convincing when someone told her one of the suspected burglars, recorded breaking into a Clearwater home by surveillance cameras, looked like her son.

"I told him, 'Come home, take your shower, get something to eat, I am about to take you over there to Clearwater, and turn you in,'" Green told FOX 13 News about the day she handed her son over to police.

On May 2, the Clearwater Police Department released the video of what they say shows three teens breaking into a home near the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Police say they stole headphones, sports memorabilia, and a pair of Michael Jordan-brand sneakers.

Green says the face of her son, Kevin King, was caught - clear as day - on a doorbell camera.

"I was heartbroken," said Green. "Because I know I didn't raise him like that."

Green told the judge Thursday morning she wanted him to be put on probation with the requirement he get back on the path to graduate high school.

"[I will bond him out in] a couple of weeks," she said as she gave a knowing smile. "He is not hardcore. I feel like he will break tonight. But I want to make sure that it sinks in."

The judge agreed to her plan, which she says is already working.

"He was like, this was his first time doing it. He was sad about it. He was just like, 'I love you,' and all that kind of stuff. And like, 'Are you going to be there for me?' I said, 'Of course, I am probably going to be the only person who is there for you,'" Green said.

She also says this is about keeping him safe.

She wants him to consider what could happen if someone pulled a gun, or if he ran from police, or if the wrong bad guy became angry.

"I would hope other parents, if they know their kids did something, to try to save their child before it is too late," she said.

While some of the stolen property was returned, Green says some of it had already been pawned.

Police say they are still looking for two other accomplices.