Stolen American Flag, POW flag and engraved Veterans' plaque recovered thanks to surveillance video
Video shows suspect stealing flags from Boy Scout community project at Elk's Club
Video shows suspect stealing flags from Boy Scout community project at Elk's Club
Video shows suspect stealing flags from Boy Scout community project at Elk's Club
A stolen American flag, a POW flag and an engraved plaque at a veteran's memorial are back after surveillance video led deputies to the suspect.
Boy Scout Troop 109 last week completed a special Veterans' memorial at the base of the Jupiter Elks Club flagpole — a concept conceived by Steve Brancazio’s son Thomas for his Eagle Scout community project.
"He wanted to put an area under the flagpole - see I still get emotional - for the veterans to sit and reflect," said Steve Brancazio, president of the Elk's Club.
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The Elks support veterans and disadvantaged children with numerous service projects, and they also sponsor Troop 109.
"Anything the community may need we are there for them," Brancazio said.
The scouts worked hard digging up a tree, laying out a patio, placing a bench, flowers and a plaque — all with money they raised themselves.
"And they did it, they did it, they spent a lot of hours working on it and it was hot," Brancazio said.
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And then one week after the dedication, surveillance cameras Sunday night caught a man riding a scooter in the darkness, going out of sight to the flagpole, and then riding away with the flags.
"The flags, one of which flew over the White House … gone. And this is where the plaque was — they broke it off and the flagpole’s empty," Brancazio said.
Palm Beach County deputies looked at the surveillance and recognized the suspect, who Brancazio saidconfessed he’d thrown the flags into a canal, but wasn’t sure where. One of the deputies spent the day searching and finally found them.
"Deputy Mark Smith, a big shoutout to him, he did a lot of walking today to get those flags back to us, we can’t thank him enough — and in this heat, too," Brancazio said.
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Brancazio found the ripped-off plaque thrown into the swale along Indiantown Road.
As for a motive, Brancazio has no idea, but is thankful he can tell the scouts their veteran’s memorial will be replaced.
The troop will hold another public ceremony in the coming weeks.
It is unclear if the sheriff's office is pursuing any charges against the suspect.