Kids will be kids. Some obey, but some will rather experiment...
What that 17yr old kid had done is no doubt dangerous, & rightfully to face the consequences of crime - for theft & danger to others, as well as a DETERRANCE to others NOT to do such crime, so as to keep everyone safe. Not may other 17yr old may be like him.....
However, may the Judge be lenient.
In an experiment we had done with individuals, we placed manufactured equipment in front of teens, to see if they could make it work, ranging from mere military radios to even complex missile systems, with no instructions, but of course, we made sure that such equipment were NOT connected to any actual critical or harmful devices, but only to placebo systems, so as not to endanger anyone.
It was a 'gifted' program of a different kind.
Some were stumped, but there were a rare few whom thru simple fiddle with knobs & using graphical display on such equipment, managed to get the equipment to work as it was supposed to....
Even in the scientific World, it has been acknowledged that some Humans are gifted in such areas, & thus that criminal kid would have out of interest, learnt how to drive a car - the instruments, the gears, the brakes, the machineries as well as the Highway codes to survive along with his passengers without harm.
No doubt there is a price to pay for crime, but as he had caused no harm, perhaps some time in a juvenile reform center would work, ALONG with encouragement to DEVELOPE his NATURAL GIFT further, eg - at the top would be a F1 driver, a pilot, or even just a simple good & effective hardworking car salesman....but with his courage, confidence & interests as well as his intellectual gift, he SHOULD be encouraged to study for an Engineering degree, as which is where one will learn how science & physics work, & contribute to the progress & evolution of not just Singapore, but Humanity.....