Police in southwest China’s Yunnan province on October 19 rescued two teenagers who got tied up on railings on street, with signs “I’m a thief” stuck on their clothes and marked on their faces.

The three teens were reportedly caught and tied by a store owner when they tried to steal some snacks from the shop. According to the store owner surnamed Rao, he caught the three teens around 4 a.m. and asked them for their parents’ contact information but didn’t get any. Furious, Rao tied the three boys on railings along the street, until passersby saw them at 8 a.m. and called the police. One of the three boys escaped the scene around 6 a.m. The two boys rescued by police were 13 and 14 years old respectively. 

The store owner was detained and the three boys were sent back home.