By T. Scott Boatright

Eight area juveniles were arrested last week for multiple concession stand break-ins at the Ruston Sports Complex.

The youths include both males and females ranging in age from 14- to 17-years-old and all face charges of burglary and simple criminal damage to property.

Those break-ins began in the middle of February with the most recent happening the weekend of March 5-7.

Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers said that officers have increased patrols in the area as the break-ins continued and on one of those patrols found some of the youths that were later arrested on the ground of the sports complex.

Further investigation by Ruston Police Department officers showed that a soccer field concession area had been broken into with chili for hot dogs spread across the floor of the concession stand.

While food goods to be sold in the concession areas were stolen, there was no money left in the stands to be taken during any of the break-ins.

During an earlier break-in, microwave ovens were destroyed and the glass door of a soft-drink cooler had been shattered. Roll-up aluminum windows for the stands were also damaged during the earlier break-ins, and fired extinguishers had been discharged and sprayed around the area.

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