Philly Youth Football Players Stole $2K In Merch From FL Store: Authorities

PHILADELPHIA — Eight members of a Philadelphia youth football team were taken into custody in Polk County, Florida on charges of felony retail theft recently, authorities said.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Davenport, Florida at about 10:55 a.m. Saturday for a report of a retail theft in progress.

The store's manager called police after seeing several teens hiding merchandise on them, the sheriff's office said.

Security footage two groups of teens come into the store separately and then act together to commit theft, according to authorities.

The teens were later identified as members of United Thoroughbreds, who were in Polk County participating in the Prolifix Nationals tournament. All are 14 to 15 years old, the sheriff's office said.

According to investigators, the eight teens formed into two separate groups, with one inside Dick’s walking around looking at merchandise.

The second group then entered the store, and one teen made a purchase near the front of the store. He met up with the rest of the teens in the middle of the store with his Dick’s Sporting Goods bag, and the others then to put merchandise inside the bag, authorities said.

Three teens took the bag, passed all points of sale, and walked out of the store, where they were detained by law enforcement, according to the sheriff's office. One of the teens was found with stolen merchandise in a black backpack, and another had the bag from the store with more than $2,000 worth of stolen goods inside, according to authorities.

The other five teens were found and detained inside the store. One of those teens had a beanie hidden inside his pants, the sheriff's office said.

The total value of stolen merchandise was confirmed at $2,296.07.

The team’s coach responded to the store and confirmed the teens were staying in Davenport for the championship game scheduled later that day. Parents of the juveniles were notified.

The teens were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center and charged. They were unable to participate in the scheduled championship game.