An Iowa man was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and second-degree theft, authorities said, after he allegedly had his teenage son steal more than $6,000 from the boy’s great-grandparents.

Arland Dale Lamb, 47, of Pella, was arrested after the boy admitted taking the money from the elderly couple. According to Pella Police Detective Justin Bailey, the teen told police that his father had asked him to steal the money and “not get caught.”

The money was reported missing when the victim told his daughter he needed money. The daughter handles the couple’s finances and she noticed about $6,175 was missing.

According to court documents filed in the case, the boy told police that he would visit the couple periodically. During his visits, he would go into the couple’s bedroom and take cash from a packet in a dresser drawer. He allegedly “grabbed a wad” of money approximately 10 times between November 2014 and January 2015. The boy thought he had taken between $2,000 and 3,000, according to court records.

In exchange for the thefts, Lamb allegedly promised to buy the boy a laptop for Christmas. The boy told police he believes that the money he received from Lamb to purchase the computer came from what he had stolen.

Bailey told the Pella (Iowa) Chronicle that the boy “maintained that he took the money by the request of Arland and it was to help Arland out.” The boy gave a written confession to relatives before going to the police.

Included in the evidence mentioned in court documents is a text message, allegedly from Lamb to the boy that read, “I really need a chunk son.” The number from which the text came matched Lamb’s phone, according to court records.

When Lamb was interviewed by police, he allegedly denied knowledge of the thefts, as well as the text. He later changed his story, according to court records.

As of Friday Lamb remained in the custody of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Woodhouse writes for the Pella (Iowa) Chronicle.