A mobile phone has led to criminal charges being laid against a 17-year-old Darwin boy.

Police allege the boy broke into a house in the suburb of Moil last night and plugged in his mobile phone to charge before leaving with stolen jewellery and some cash but without his phone.

When the boy returned to the house to retrieve the phone, he was confronted by the owners.

They held him until police arrived.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Stringer said: "I've seen some stupidity in my time but this one is up there with the best of them."