INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Feb. 19, 2016) — A mother’s love lead to a hard lesson in crime for one accused thief.

On Thursday, CBS4 showed video of a group of teens repeatedly storming into a gas station and stealing thousands of dollars in snacks.

Police released the surveillance video and asked for the public’s help tracking down the suspects. The mother of one of the suspects saw the video and turned in her son.

The video showed a group of thieves repeatedly storming the aisles of a convenience store on south Meridian and stuffing their bags with soda and snacks.

The thefts caused the owner an expensive headache.

“It’s like 500 to 600 dollars each time you know. There’s seven kids and they keep doing it. They never stop,” said the store owner Randy Singh.

Police arrested 18-year-old Jonathan Ratcliff after the teen’s mother recognized her son in the videos and called police.

“Mom saw the video that was released and did the right thing coming forward,” said IMPD Sgt. Kendale Adams.

Police already had a solid lead on Ratcliff because during one of the thefts the suspect threw his back pack at the clerk.

Inside the bag, police found several homework assignments with the name Jonathan Ratcliff written at the top.

Once in custody, police say Ratcliff confessed to taking part in several of the crimes.

“He gave some statements that implicated him in three of the four that we were looking at,” said Adams.

Sgt. Adams says the case shows the importance of the media, the public and police working together to solve crimes in our city.

“I mean there’s just no way police can do it by themselves, that’s why we preach community involvement,” said Adams. “We know that the message is getting out there. We know this is an example for citizens to see, when you see something, do the right thing. Do like this mother did in turning her son in.”

Police also expect a second suspect, a juvenile, to turn himself in next week.

Anyone with information on the other suspects is asked to contact IMPD or Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS.