3 teens accused of damaging holiday decorations

Flagler County deputies charge 17-year-old boys with theft, criminal mischief

PALM COAST, Fla. – Three Palm Coast teens told deputies they were "Grinching" early Sunday morning when they stole holiday lawn ornaments from several homes and damaged mailboxes along several city streets.

Zachary Jacobs, Matthew Smith and James Rumph, all 17, are charged with felony grand theft from a dwelling, criminal mischief and felony criminal mischief that occurred overnight Saturday.

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Deputies were called to a home on Filbert Lane on Sunday morning where the resident reported stolen holiday lights. Another resident on Federal Lane reported the theft of holiday decorations.

As part of their investigation, deputies identified the three teens involved. They said the three returned the stolen items to the owners and then assisted deputies with identifying the damages they caused overnight.

Deputies said two baseball bats were recovered from vacant lots, and stolen holiday lights and lawn ornaments were recovered outside the home of one of the juveniles and inside the trunk of the vehicle that had been used in the incident.

In all, deputies said there were nine cases of damage caused by the teenagers, including damage to mailboxes, a house window and a vehicle. The teens also were charged with six different thefts of holiday decorations.

Two of the teens were charged and released to their parents. One was transported to the Division of Youth Services in Daytona Beach.