Somehow, I suspect this is not the first time Jr. has bragged to his dad about how much he stole. That kind of direct and boastful behavior is how I would expect one car thief to speak to another car thief, hoping to impress.
Perhaps the son pushed it this time, by stealing from a cop. That, according to the father, was over the top. Whatever the background, this dad did the right thing.
Daddy is a Navy vet. if that means anything to you.