Eight youngsters on a Philadelphia youth soccer crew have been arrested and charged with felonies after they allegedly stole hundreds of {dollars}’ value of merchandise from a Dick’s Sporting Items in Florida — solely hours earlier than their championship sport.
The gamers on the United Thoroughbreds crew, aged 14 to fifteen, had traveled to Polk County from Pennsylvania, the place they stole objects value $2,296.07 from the shop Saturday morning, in keeping with police.
On this display screen seize from Google Maps Road View, a Dick’s Sporting Items retailer is proven in Davenport, Fla.
Google Maps Road View
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis lambasted the boys on-line for his or her crimes.
“They picked the flawed state — and the flawed county,” he posted on X.
In a press convention, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated the eight juveniles Ubered to the shop, the place they allegedly stuffed 47 objects into baggage and their pants earlier than leaving the shop.
“I do not know if these have been starters or not, however I can let you know that we have been finishers. We arrested them,” Judd said at the press conference. He unrolled an outsized receipt with all of the stolen articles to emphasise the thefts.
Judd referred to as the crew the “Thoroughbred Thieves,” and stated they labored collectively in groups of two to steal, according to store footage.
All eight suspects declined to offer statements and had no prior felony arrests on file, in keeping with the Polk County Sheriff’s Workplace.
As a consequence of being detained, they have been unable to play of their championship sport later that day, the place they misplaced to the Cocoa Tigers, 26-6, per police.
The suspects are dealing with costs of retail theft over $750 and conspiracy to commit retail theft, that are each felonies, per police. They must return to Florida from Pennsylvania to face the fees towards them.
