8 PA Teens Arrested For Stealing From FL Dick’s Sporting Goods Store: Sheriff

DAVENPORT, FL — Eight teenagers visiting Polk County from the Philadelphia area for a football tournament were arrested Saturday morning after being caught stealing nearly $2,300 worth of items from Dick’s Sporting Goods in Davenport, authorities said.

Deputies responded to reports of a retail theft in progress at the store just before 11 a.m., the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The store manager saw the boys concealing merchandise and contacted PCSO.

All eight teens, all 14 or 15 years old, were detained at the store and arrested.

While the sheriff’s office named the suspects, it’s Patch policy not to name minors who are arrested unless they’ve been charged as an adult. It’s not known if they were charged as juveniles or adults.

Surveillance video footage showed two groups of teens enter the store separately and act together to steal items, the sheriff’s office said.

A group of three suspects walked around the store looking at merchandise and another group of four, came in separately.

An eighth teen made a purchase before meeting up with the other boys at the center of the store, where they put items inside his Dick’s bag, the sheriff’s office said.

Three of the teens left the store with the bag and were met outside by deputies, who detained them. One of the boys also had stolen merchandise in his backpack.

The other five suspects were found and detained inside the store.

The boys were members of a youth football team, the United Thoroughbreds, that was playing in the Prolifix Nationals tournament.

The team’s coach, Raekwon Bynes, 29, of Philadelphia, was called to the store and confirmed the teens were staying in Davenport for the championship game scheduled later that day.

All eight suspects refused to provide statements. None have prior criminal arrest histories, according to the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center.

They were all charged with retail theft over $750 and conspiracy to commit retail theft.

Because of their arrests, they weren’t able to participate in the championship game.

"These juveniles were not from Polk County, they came here from Philly for a football tournament, and instead of representing their team with pride, they chose to steal — they are Thoroughbred [thieves]. Let this be clear: it doesn’t matter if you’re from here or visiting, if you break the law in Polk County, you will be arrested and held accountable,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

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