DALLAS, N.C. – School and police officials in Gaston County, North Carolina take bullying very seriously.

Two North Gaston High School students learned that the hard way.

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The students were arrested Monday over an alleged bullying incident on a school bus last month and now face felony larceny charges, the Gaston Gazette reports.

Police allege the teens, ages 16 and 18, stole a can of Dr. Pepper and a pack of Skittles from a middle school boy on the bus Feb. 22.

“The incident appears to be a case of bullying, which will not be tolerated, according to Sgt. Josh Hamlin with Gaston County Police,” the news site reports.

Both of the alleged teen thieves were released to the custody of their parent or guardian after their arrest.

North Carolina law considers larceny of property or services valued at $1,000 or less as a Class 1 Misdemeanor, which comes with a potential sentence of one to 45 days in jail for first time offenders. But all larcenies involving property taken from another person are considered a felony in the Tar Heel State, and typically come with a four to eight month sentence, according to CriminalDefenseLawyer.com.

Numerous folks who commented about the student arrests online believe officials went overboard in charging the allegedly bullies with a felony.

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“Government at its finest,” Terry Moody posted to the Gaston Gazette comments. “I got my butt kicked and was taken from while in school. You know what it taught me? Learn to take up for yourself. We have become a society of whiners and cry babies. School teaches kids now to lay down and roll over and tell somebody so they can take up for you. Should the kid report it? Yes. Should the kids that took it get in trouble? Yes. But a felony? NO.

“That stupid mistake could cost them their entire future. Not to mention break their parents with all the attorney fees and court costs. I know but ‘They’re BULLIES.’ No they are kids that need their butt kicked. But we know you can’t punish your children anymore or you will end up in jail for that too, charged with a felony. Government at its finest.”

“Everything always turns out better when you involve the government. Am I right?” Fred Charlotte wrote.

“Is this a joke?” Rebecca Schwindeman questioned.

“Felony? Really?” Trent Woodfin added. “I do not condone bullying or stealing this is nowhere near a felony.”

Several commenters also supported the charges, citing the devastating impact bullying can have on some kids.

“It should be a felony just for the bullying part!” LeAnn wrote.

“Not so funny when a child being bullied kills himself,” Lisa Bolding posted.

“You are right,” Linda responded. “Two kids in the past year at one school committed suicide because of bullying.”