Eight teenagers from a Philadelphia youth soccer team were arrested and charged with felonies after they allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Dick’s Sporting Goods in Florida, just hours before their championship game.
The United Thoroughbreds players, ages 14 and 15, had traveled to Polk County from Pennsylvania, where they stole $2,296.07 worth of items from the store Saturday morning, according to police.
This Google Maps Street View screenshot shows a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Davenport, Florida.
Google Maps street view
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lashed out at children online for their crimes.
“They picked the wrong state and the wrong county.” published in X.
At a news conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the eight juveniles took an Uber ride to the store, where they allegedly stuffed 47 items into bags and pants before leaving the store.
“I don’t know if they were starters or not, but I can tell you that we were starters. We arrested them.” Judd said at the press conference. He unrolled a large receipt with all the stolen items to highlight the thefts.
Judd called the team “Thoroughbred Thieves” and said they worked together in teams of two to steal. according to store images.
The eight suspects declined to provide statements and had no criminal history on record, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Because of their arrest, they were unable to play in their championship game that same day, where they lost to the Cocoa Tigers, 26-6, according to police.
The suspects face charges of retail theft over $750 and conspiracy to commit retail theft, both felonies, according to police. They will have to return to Florida from Pennsylvania to face the charges against them.
