Philadelphia football players steal 2000 worth from Florida Dicks Sporting Goods

Eight players from a Philadelphia youth football team allegedly stole over $2,000 worth of merchandise from a Dick’s Sporting Goods while in Florida for a national championship tournament, as the local sheriff tore into the “ultimate loser” coach who cried to get the kids’ charges dropped.

The juvenile suspects, part of the United Thoroughbreds under-14 team, were hours away from kickoff in the Prolifix Nationals tournament when they decided to take an Uber to the store in Davenport, Florida, on Dec. 6, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

The delinquents were captured on security cameras entering the store just before 11 a.m. where they launched the daylight heist, according to footage shared by the sheriff’s office.

One of the kids, 15-year-old Marcus Hudgens, made a purchase at a checkout line to get a “Dicks” bag before meeting up with the other teens in the middle of the store.

Security footage allegedly captured the young thieves stuffing items into the bag as they made their way through the store.

Daimon Johnson, 15, Mark Bryan, 15, and Ibn Mahdee Abdul Haqq, 14, grabbed the bag and walked out of the store, bypassing all registers and into the parking lot where they were stopped by awaiting deputies.

Hudgens, Elijah Myers,14, Tymir Speller, 15, Tymir Smith, 14, and Jacob Scott, 15, were located inside the store and detained.

Abdul-Haqq allegedly stole merchandise inside a black backpack while Bryan was holding the store’s bag.

Speller was found with a stolen beanie down his pants.

The teens are accused of stealing 47 items totaling $2,296.07.

Among the stolen merchandise were a $135 Nike hoodie, a $125 Nike women’s running jacket, two $110 Under Armour hoodies and two $70 football gloves.

“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,” Judd said. “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.”

During the arrest, the team’s coach, Raekwon Bynes, was called to the store and began pleading with cops and store employees to release the players, Judd said.

“The coach who is responsible for them, you’d think he would be interested in holding them accountable and responsible, instead, he goes to the deputies and begs them not to take these young men into custody,” Judd said.

“Oh don’t arrest them, drop the charges, let them go,” the coach allegedly said, according to the sheriff.

“They were not taking bubblegum, one piece to chew. They stole over $2,000 worth of products. And when it was evident that they were going to be arrested, the coach says, ‘Don’t you guys have anything better to do then arrest these kids,’” Judd said.

“I don’t know how you do things in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but in Polk County, Florida, we lock you up for stealing, for being a thief,” he added.

The teens were arrested and charged with third-degree felony Retail Theft over $750 and third-degree felony Conspiracy to Commit Retail Theft.

They were transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center and missed playing in the championship game.

Florida-based Cocoa Tigers U-14 routed the Thoroughbreds in the Prolifix Sportz AAU National Championship, winning 26-6.

“I don’t know if they were starters or not, but we are finishers, we arrested them,” Judd said.

“You chose to be arrested and that’s the way it is,” he added. “And for the coach, you’re way off base here, buddy. Way off base. You’re the ultimate loser.”