Three Key West middle school boys were caught allegedly selling stolen watches at school earlier this week.
Students at Horace O'Bryant Middle School in Key West told school authorities Tuesday morning that other students were selling wrist watches on campus. Key West Police School Resource Officer Chris Gough looked into it.
Gough learned that three boys, two 11-year-olds and a 14-year-old, reportedly took watches from a display case at K-Mart on Saturday afternoon and offered them for sale to friends. Sunday they returned to the store with two other boys, ages 12 and 13, and reportedly took some more watches.
The 12-year-old reportedly also shoplifted a gold and diamond stud earring and the 13-year-old took a T-shirt.
The original three boys reportedly again sold or tried to sell watches after leaving the store. Then, back at school, they allegedly began selling and giving away the watches.
Gough checked with K-Mart. The store's inventory showed as many as 31 watches missing. Gough got back from students 26 of the watches and knew where two more were. He arrested all five boys, who reportedly admitted to the thefts.
The boys who allegedly stole the watches were charged with grand theft and dealing with stolen property. The other two were charged with petit theft. They were all turned over the juvenile justice authorities.